Those interested in the Bar Association’s new work-life initiative should make the time to read Douglas Litowitz’s book, The Destruction of Young Lawyers.  Straight to the point, Litowitz declares on the very first page that “the legal profession makes young people unhappy, anxious, depressed and desperate.”  In fact, Litowitz explains that young lawyers shoulder most of the “misery” within the profession. 

Litowitz blames such unhappiness on six primary causes.  First, law school is described as unnecessarily long and as having an overall negative impact on self-esteem because of the Socratic teaching method.  Second, the bar exam, which Litowitz describes as a pointless exercise, drives people crazy with angst as opposed to teaching anything useful for the actual practice of law.  Third, law as a profession seems to have been transformed into law as a business.  Litowitz recognizes that young lawyers, compared to their older, more experienced counterparts, cannot reminisce about the “old days” when the law was a profession more than a billable-hour-driven business. 

Fourth, there is the pressure to practice at a large firm in order to pay off the debt accumulated in law school.  The population of young lawyers has become overcrowded with debt-burdened individuals fighting to survive in a completely unfamiliar legal world and an ultra-competitive job market.  Debt has become a powerful influence in the lives of these young lawyers, who most likely have not reached the point at which they can recognize the value of their “first mortgage” (their education).  Litowitz points out that most new lawyers have monthly student loan payments in excess of $1,000. 

Fifth, there are the advances in technology which put lawyers “on call” and create unrealistic time expectations for them to get back to clients with completed work product. Few law school professors can prepare students for the current legal world; in fact, few have probably experienced it.  Blackberries, cell phones, and other technology create a never-ending work day with 24-hour accessibility and increased expectations from clients. 

Finally, Litowitz cites mental dysfunction as a cause; although separate from the profession itself, mental problems seem to be a common ailment of intellectual beings crazy enough to spend 100K to go to law school. 

Add youth to this stressful combination—and a desire to establish a personal and professional life simultaneously (simply establish, never mind creating a balance)—and it is easy to see why young lawyers are unhappy.

High Rate of Anxiety, Depression and Alcoholism

Discouraged?  Don’t go grab a glass of wine just yet—because Litowitz explores statistics regarding young lawyers that all point in one direction—much higher rates of anxiety, depression and alcoholism than in the rest of the population.  We even beat out our young doctor counterparts!  The Destruction of Young Lawyers is full of such sobering statistics.

Although parts of the book are very interesting, including a nice diatribe regarding the term “associates” and how it is used by Wal-Mart to describe certain employees, overall I found the book itself depressing.  Even though the sentiments are not entirely applicable to my experience (Litowitz seems to describe big city, big firm life), I found it necessary to remind myself that the book is written by someone who, for the most part, has abandoned the legal profession.  There are enough negative points made in the book so that the four-page “happy ending” offered doesn’t quite cut it.  Although I saw truth in parts of what Litowitz is saying, it was difficult to read something that criticized the profession that I chose straight out of college post partum, so to speak. 

This book would be a good refresher to the “old timers” that wonder why young lawyers these days are unhappy and why they just can’t “suck it up” like they believe they did once upon a time.  This book also would be a good read for your relative or acquaintance who is a senior in college and has no idea what to do with his/her life besides go to law school to postpone the inevitable for a few years—it is, after all, a very expensive mistake if you are not committed.

Humanize the Profession 

Hopefully for young lawyers, this book will create the discussions necessary to actually implement change, rather than to provide more reasons to sulk.  One valuable lesson that I have realized through my experience pondering the topics discussed in The Destruction of Young Lawyers is the common theme of alienation.  It has made me realize the importance of human contact—of relationships, of loyalty and a feeling of belonging.  It is only by humanizing our profession that we will eliminate the alienation that leads to the destruction of young lawyers—and experience the personal rewards and satisfaction that will foster and lead to our overall healthy development.

Colleen C.  Karpinsky is an attorney with McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, P.A. in Manchester.  She is a member of the New Lawyers Committee.

The Destruction of Young Lawyers is published by the University of Akron Press (November 30, 2005)

Note:  This is a very short book, but prepare yourself for a tough read.  I found it puzzling, and almost hypocritical, that for an author who has so much criticism of the law school experience that he would condemn his readers to the same small font that effectively ruined many lawyers’ vision over the course of three years. 

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