Practicing Law: Lots of Responsibility/Accountability But Little Control

 the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division has chosen resilience, realignment and revitalization as the theme of its first in-person gathering since early 2020. The spring conference is May 5-7 in Atlanta and will cover how to stay resilient when dealing with difficult clients, attorney mental health and other topics." - Reuters Legal, May 2, 2022.

Practicing law is, of course, not the only line of work that has roller-coaster dynamics.

But, it is among those in which there is a high level of responsibiity and accountability without a lot of control. That could be the "it" which makes the profession so stressful and often not big for satisfaction.

That low level of control could cover:

  • The law itself. Sure, current lawyering can modify the law but typically the law is the law. Lawyers have to play in that sandbox. 

 

  • The clients. There may be no understanding of the law by them. Or of the power structure such as judges. There are just the demands. Once lawyers agree to represent that client they will need official permission to get out of all that. Meanwhile, they could be locked into one of those clients-from-hell situations.

 

  • The opposing lawyers. Lawyers tell me that is often the source of the intense pressure they experience. It's the old story of what lawyers do to other lawyers. Remember this: In the US the legal system is essentially adversarial. 

 

  • Judges and Juries. Skilled lawyers can win them over but there are so many variables playing out.

 

  • The court of public opinion. Lawyers are targets. Page views are built on a platform for dishing the dirt. 

Let's hope at the in-person meetup young lawyers discover new coping tools and/or how to use more effectively the traditional ones.

Connect with Editor-in-Chief Jane Genova at jangenova374@gmail.com.

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