Where We Are Now: Mental Health in Big Law

In this course, we will dive into the underlying incentives, patterns, and systemic phenomena that have created and developed the industry of Big Law. We will uncover how the industry retains top talent, attracts top students, and keeps its stature as the leading "sexy" side of the legal profession. The training opportunities, financial components, and other positives of the industry will be discussed, as will the less than glamorous sides of the industry, including mental health despair, burnout, and attrition.

We will unpack boundary-setting for associates. More specifically how associates can prepare and arm themselves to protect their mental health in a law firm, and how attorneys who work outside of the industry can learn to better care for their people in light of the shortcomings.

 

Learning Objectives:

1. Conceptualize the Big Law industry as it relates to prestige, status, and mental health

2. Analyze how Big Law affects mental health

3. Review tools to use at your disposal to manage mental health and lifestyle in Big Law or wherever you practice