imagine all the people living life in peace. you may say i’m a dreamer. john lennon
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MAKING THE MOST OUT OF LAW SCHOOL
Andy Benjamin, J.D., Ph.D.
UW School of Lawgahb54@u.washington.edu
music generously provided by:Professor Paula Lustbader
Seattle University School of Law
Imagine all the people
living life in peace.
You may say I’m a dreamer.
John Lennon
Before Law School Acculturation
new students are quite healthy and happy on arrival
Benjamin, Kazniak, Sales & Shanfield (1986). The role of legal education in producing psychological distress among law students and lawyers. American Bar Foundation Research Journal, 1986, 225-252.
students compare well with undergraduates and new nursing students in measures of well being, emotional health, and healthy (intrinsic) motivation and values
Sheldon and Krieger (2004). Does Legal Education Have Undermining Effects on Law Students? Evaluating Changes in Values, Motivation and Well-Being, Behavioral Sciences and Law.
The ProblemHuge prevalence rates of psychological and
substance abuse problems; Corroborated by six methodologically sound studies on separate law student/lawyer populations- 30 years of findings remain consistent
Daicoff (1997). Lawyer know thyself: A review of empirical research on Attorney Attributes bearing on professionalism, 46 Am. U. L. Rev., 1337-1427.
annotated bibliography www.abalegalservices.org/colap under Products & Publications
I was bruised and battered;
I couldn’t tell what I felt;
I was unrecognizable
to myself.
Bruce Springsteen
SymptomsSubscale Law Students > 98th%
Obsessive-Compulsive 19.0%Interpersonal Sensitive 35.3%Depression 23.4%Anxiety 30.4%Paranoid Ideation 12.5%Social Alienation and Isolation 26.6%
Concerns about Alcohol Use 24.0%Benjamin, Kazniak, Sales & Shanfield (1986). The role of legal education in
producing psychological distress among law students and lawyers. American Bar Foundation Research Journal, 1986, 225-252.
There something happening here.
What it is ain’t exactly clear.
Buffalo Springfield
What Happens During Acculturation
Professional schools- extremely invasive exert intense control by purposely influencing the beliefs, values, and personality characteristics of their students
Etzioni, A. (1965). Organizational control structure, in J.G. March, ed., Handbook of Organizations, 650 (Chicago: Rand McNally).
Law school undermines professionalism and health
negates healthy values- intimacy, communitypromotes unhealthy values (external rewards, status, comparative worth)substitutes competition and anxiety, negates healthy motivation (personal enjoyment and values-based effort)habituates students to frustration of fundamental needs (health routines, self-esteem, relatedness, authenticity, security)
Sheldon and Krieger (2004). Does Legal Education Have Undermining Effects on Law Students? Evaluating Changes in Values, Motivation and Well-Being, Behavioral Sciences and Law.
They’re playing They’re playing
Russian Roulette, Russian Roulette,
with my mind.with my mind.
Van Morrison
Hey now, all you children,
leave your lights on,
better leave your lights on.
Cause there’s a monster,
living under my bed,
whispering in my ear.
Santana//Everlast
Symptoms of DepressionThe Dysphoric Array:
mixture of anxiety, depression, and hostilitythoughts of killing selffeeling so unhappy that you cannot shake itdissatisfied or bored with most aspects of lifenicotine use (the most efficient anti-dysphoric on the legal market- significant cancer risk attacheddisrupted sleep- never feeling sufficiently restedincreased social isolationlimiting normal exercise patterns
Depression3.6 times more likely than any of the other 104 occupational groups19% incidence rate
Eaton, Anthony, Mandel, Garrison (1990). Occupations and the prevalence of major depressive disorder. Journal of Occupational Medicine, 32(11), 1079-1086.
Benjamin, Darling & Sales (1990). The prevalence of depression, alcohol abuse, and cocaine abuse among United States lawyers. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 13(3), 233-246.
I want to run.
I want to hide.
U2
Been
dazed and confused
for so long
its not true.
Led Zeppelin
Symptoms of AddictionThe Alcohol/Drug Dependent Array:
managing sleep patterns through using substancesfeeling guilty about your use of alcohol or drugsdrinking or using drugs creates problems between you and your partner, parent, or relativesneglecting your obligations for longer than a day because of negative consequences related to useno memory of time period during useincreasing social isolationlimiting normal exercise patterns
Base Rate Differences- Females
Type of Symptom NP AtsObsessive-Compulsive 2% 15%Depression 14% 16%Anxiety 4% 20%Alcohol Problems 8% 71%Beck, Sales & Benjamin (1996). Lawyer Distress: Alcohol-related
problems and other psychological concerns among a sample of practicing lawyers. Journal of Law and Health, 10, 1-60.
Base Rate Differences- MalesType of Symptom NP AtsObsessive-Compulsive 2% 21%Depression 9% 21%Anxiety 4% 30%Alcohol Problems 20% 67%Beck, Sales & Benjamin (1996). Lawyer Distress: Alcohol-related
problems and other psychological concerns among a sample of practicing lawyers. Journal of Law and Health, 10, 1-60.
Before you
accuse me,
take a look at
yourself.
Eric Clapton
HostilityHostile/cynical law students 4.19 times more likely to die prematurely due to cardiovascular disease within 30 years
Barefoot, Dodge, Peterson, Dahlstrom & Williams (1989). The Cook-Medley Hostility Scale: Item content and ability to predict survival. 51, 46-57
Beck, Sales & Benjamin (1996). Lawyer Distress: Alcohol-related problems and other psychological concerns among a sample of practicing lawyers. Journal of Law and Health, 10, 1-60.
McCann, B.S., Russo, J., & Benjamin, G.A.H. (1997). Hostility, social support, and perceptions of work. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 2, 175-185.
The heat is on, the heat is on, the heat is on,
oh its on the street, the heat is on.
Glen Frye
Dissatisfaction ABA in 1984, 40% lawyers very satisfied,
but by 1990 this number had dropped to 29% dissatisfaction prevailed everywhere (e.g., partners, managing lawyers, jr. associates, solo/small firm lawyers, government, etc.)regardless of the type of practice or the amount of money a lawyer made
ABA Study ConcludedThe study found links among three concerns: a) pressures of a deteriorating work environment
b) increased levels of distress (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress-induced illness, interpersonal prob, alcohol/drug abuse, and obs/compulsive behavior)
c) decreased ability to cope (e.g., social support, relaxation, exercise, expression of humor, etc.).
American Bar Association (1991). At the breaking point: The report of a national conference on the emerging crisis in the quality of lawyers' health and lives, and its impact on law firms and client services. Chicago: ABA.
People gonna talk about
the things you do.
They gonna talk,
be it lie or true.
Linda Ronstadt
She said don’t give or
sell your soul away,
cause all that
you have
is your
soul.Tracy Chapman
Implications for Disciplinary Problems
27% disciplinary problems and 60% of malpractice complaints alcohol related
Green (1988). Half of Malpractice and Layer discipline complaints stem from substance abuse. Annual Meeting of National Conference of Bar Presidents.
50-75% disc. problems alcohol relatedSpillis (1991). An overview of lawyer assistance programs in the
United States: Report of the ABA Commission on Impaired Attorneys. Chicago: ABA
Association of American Law Schools Committee Report (1994). Report of the AALS Special Committee on Problems of Substance Abuse in Law Schools, Journal of Legal Education, 44, 35.
What you want? Baby I got it.
What you need?
Do you know that I got it?
All I’m asking is for respect …
Aretha Franklin
TOWARD SOLUTIONSOpenly address the health and
satisfaction problemsbuild student attention by activating group empowermentneutralize damaging effects of silence by ending isolation (faculty and staff open their doors) diminish insecurity by recognizing and validating unique student gifts
I want to get by with a little help from my friends.
I just keep trying with my friends.
I want to get high with my friends.
I just hold on with my friends.
Joe Cocker
Social SupportRomantic involvement is a stress protector for
females while in law school
Out of law school females remain angrier while males remain more stressed in their primary relationships than NPs
Beck, Sales & Benjamin (1996). Lawyer Distress: Alcohol-related problems and other psychological concerns among a sample of practicing lawyers. Journal of Law and Health, 10, 1-60.
It’s me who is my enemy.
Me who beats me up.
Me who makes the monsters.
Me who strips my confidence.
Cole
TOWARD SOLUTIONSStudent objectives
Solid sleep, eating, exercising patterns Strong social supportKnowledge of signal emotional states- results in activation of wellness behaviorsBalance struck in all areas of lifeAny of four conditions above absent, seek assistance for Sandra, SBA, Mentors
I’ll tell you one thing.
If you would leave
it’d be a
crying shame.
Santana/Thomas
TOWARD SOLUTIONSMinimize (unnecessary) excessive stress
eliminate habitual overworkabandon zero-sum competitive “need to win” paradigm, which creates perception of failure for many previously successful studentsbuild skills at collaboration and legal counseling
Sheldon and Krieger (2004). Does Legal Education Have Undermining Effects on Law Students? Evaluating Changes in Values, Motivation and Well-Being, Behavioral Sciences and Law.
I feel good.
I knew that I would now.
I feel good.
I knew that I would now, so good, so good …
James Brown
I’m going to get up and
make my life shine.
I’m going to get up and
make my life shine.
I’ve made up my mind…
Scaggs
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