Resilience in Law School and Beyond
Maybe your parents stayed with one employer throughout their entire career. Or maybe your grandparents did. Chances are, this is not an option that’s available, or even appealing to you as you continue law school and move into your legal career. That’s why resilience is so important, and why you should start developing resilience skills early on.
In a recent article from Psychology Today written by a former lawyer, the author discusses seven things that resilient employees do differently. She acknowledges that at the low-point of her career at a law firm, she lacked resilience and has since learned skills to improve her resilience. According to the author, resilience is “a person’s ability to bounce back from and grow and thrive during challenge, change, and adversity.”
Here are the seven things resilient employees do differently. How can you apply them to law school and your legal career?
- “They develop high-quality connections.” – Do you have a trusted mentor who’s a good listener?
- “They manage stress & avoid burnout.” – Do you recognize signs of cynicism, energy loss, or exhaustion in yourself? Do you take time out for self-care and recovery?
- “They show up as their real selves.” – Do you keep in touch with the real reason you chose to come to law school?
- “They grow their grit.” – Do you have the passion and perseverance to pursue your long-term goals?
- “They stay inspired.” – Do you see the value and impact of your studies and future career?
- “They have mental toughness & flexibility.” – Do you track your thoughts and emotions when you’re stressed out in order to identify and address counterproductive behaviors?
- “They manage change and setback.” – Can you pick yourself up and move on after experiencing a frustrating class session, a poor grade, or a challenging day at work?
See Paula Davis-Laack, Seven Things Resilient Employees Do Differently, Psychology Today (Oct. 2, 2014) [full text].
