This Just In: The Hidden Sources of Law School Stress – Avoiding the Mistakes that Create Unhappy and Unprofessional Lawyers
The Law L
ibrary recently acquired fifteen copies of The Hidden Sources of Law School Stress by Lawrence Krieger. Whether you are beginning law school, making final preparations to take the bar (good luck!), or starting a career in the legal profession, it is likely that dealing with stress is a big part of your life. In order to decrease stress, the author suggests that students and lawyers should moderate unrealistically high goals, let go of the need to be in control, focus on internal motivators, avoid debt, and value honesty. Even working on just a few of these things can help to decrease stress levels and allow individuals to lead happier lives. Of this list of stress-relieving behaviors and mindsets, I personally found the sections on being honest and managing one’s finances to have the most straightforward advice on how to bring a little more happiness into the lives of law students.
This publication recognizes and highlights the direct relationship between lying and high stress levels. According to the psychologist Brad Blanton, “lying is the major source of all human stress. Lying kills people.” While this statement is a bit extreme, compromising your integrity can truly have fatal consequences. Krieger states that lying can make someone both emotionally or physically sick. Don’t justify lying by following legal doctrines such as “zealous advocacy” or “de minimus.” If you want to have a less stressful life, stick to the truth.
Debt and stress are also closely connected. Even though debt is in many cases unavoidable, it is important to recognize a difference between unnecessary and necessary debt. Krieger notes that law students can save $4000 during their law school careers by drinking regular coffee instead of fancy espressos or lattes. An additional $8000 can be saved by packing a lunch instead of buying it. Is getting coffee from Starbucks on a daily basis really worth the extra stress it causes you by adding to your debt?
This pamphlet can be found in A066 at KF287 .K75 2005. Check it out to learn more about ways to make your time in law school and the legal profession more stress free.
