Who Are The Happiest Lawyers?

Most people understand that lawyers are generally less happy than people in other professions. This is because the legal profession can be a grind sometimes, and the adversarial nature of the industry, combined with the tedium of some legal tasks, reduces the satisfaction legal practitioners have with their jobs. However, some lawyers seem happier than others, and attorneys should keep this in mind when they look for job opportunities within the legal profession.

In-House Lawyers

In my experience, lawyers who work in-house seem to have extremely high levels of job satisfaction. This is due to several reasons. Perhaps most importantly, in-house lawyers frequently do not need to work the odd hours that other attorneys need to due to deadlines and busy seasons. Many of my friends who are in-house attorneys report rarely working more than 40 or perhaps 50 hours a week, which is different from many lawyers who need to put in more hours.

Moreover, in-house lawyers often do not need to do many of the tasks that lawyers hate. They do not need to appear in court often and do not need to present oral arguments, take depositions, or conduct other tasks that many lawyers find nerve-wracking or stressful. Moreover, in-house lawyers usually do not have interactions with opposing counsel, so they can avoid some of the stressful exchanges that many attorneys face in the course of their practice. In-house lawyers typically have some level of experience before they land such jobs, so lawyers looking to go in-house might need to hang their hats at another employer for some time to gain experience. However, in-house lawyers have some of the best job satisfaction of any attorneys I meet.

Self-Employed Lawyers

I can attest from personal experience that being a self-employed lawyer can eliminate many of the stresses that lawyers face at a traditional law firm. Self-employed lawyers do not have bosses, they do not need to engage in office politics, and they do not need to complete boss-required tasks that make no sense. Moreover, self-employed lawyers can work less than attorneys at other law firms and still earn more money. Associates at a law firm generally keep about a third of the revenue they generate in the form of compensation, but a self-employed lawyer can keep more than double that, so if there is sufficient work to complete, being self-employed can be a good way to earn more money, in less time, and with less stress.

Of course, not every lawyer can be self-employed, and some self-employed lawyers struggle to earn enough money to make this career work. In addition, self-employed lawyers need to deal with collections, client relations, and other tasks that associates at other law firms may not need to handle. Still, self-employment can help lawyers be happier in their careers.

Government Lawyers

I have less familiarity with government lawyers than I do with the other types of attorneys mentioned above. However, pretty much every lawyer I know who works for the government likes their job. Perhaps due to how these lawyers promote the public interest rather than a private client’s interests. In addition, government lawyers have real power depending on the type of tasks they complete. In many circumstances, government lawyers earn less money than attorneys in the private sector, but many attorneys may accept that for more purpose in their careers.

All told, the good thing about a law degree is that it empowers lawyers to pursue different types of jobs within the legal profession. Attorneys who are focused on improving their happiness and quality of life might want to consider certain types of opportunities within the legal industry.

Jordan Rothman is a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey law firm. He is also the founder of Student Debt Diaries, a website discussing how he paid off his student loans. You can reach Jordan through email at jordan@rothman.law.

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