I am reading this book by John Grisham called Gray Mountain. Whatever little I know of the legal system in the U.S, I owe a lot of it to John Grisham’s books. Am a huge fan. I don’t want to delve into the details of the book but there is a reason I want to bring it up. The backdrop of the book is the recession of 2007 when times were tough and many companies failed and ceased to exist. The protagonist works for one such big law firm and she is let go. She is promised to be absorbed back provided she does volunteer work for a year. Reluctantly, she leaves NYC and joins a legal aid clinic in Virginia that represents cases for poor folks at no cost. It’s a contrast for her. In NYC, she made millions by doing paper work for her rich clients. She had never seen a court room and litigation was not her cup of tea. In Virginia, she works free but has a chance to make a real difference in the lives of people. She sees real cases, courtrooms, litigation etc. For an Ivy League law graduate, what is more fulfilling? Earning millions pushing paper or having an enriching career that makes a difference but with no money? The bottom line: does money always grant you happiness?
There was an article in the NYT recently(http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/lawyers-with-lowest-pay-report-more-happiness/?_r=0) which seemed to address this question. It says some 6200 lawyers were surveyed and it was found that factors normally associated with success in the legal field such as high income or a high level job at a prestigious firm had zero correlation with happiness and well-being. However, lawyers in public service jobs who made least money like public defenders or legal aid attorneys are more happier.
The article further says that according a John Hopkins study in 1990 lawyers were 3.6 times as likely as non-lawyers to suffer from depression and last December, Yale Law school released a study according to which 70% of the students who responded to a survey were affected by mental health issues. I don’t mean to single out the law profession. It’s certainly interesting and extremely demanding. But, not everyone is made for it.
I think we all experience a point in our life when we get a lucrative job but not satisfying. If you do find a satisfying one, it’s not lucrative. Given a choice, I am sure we will all opt for the ones that are fulfilling. But, many times you have no choice. You made to the American dream of a big house and satisfaction will not pay your mortgage or your child’s college education. But, assuming all your other needs are satisfied, would it make sense to choose satisfaction and meaning over money? It does set you thinking.
There was an article in the NYT recently(http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/lawyers-with-lowest-pay-report-more-happiness/?_r=0) which seemed to address this question. It says some 6200 lawyers were surveyed and it was found that factors normally associated with success in the legal field such as high income or a high level job at a prestigious firm had zero correlation with happiness and well-being. However, lawyers in public service jobs who made least money like public defenders or legal aid attorneys are more happier.
The article further says that according a John Hopkins study in 1990 lawyers were 3.6 times as likely as non-lawyers to suffer from depression and last December, Yale Law school released a study according to which 70% of the students who responded to a survey were affected by mental health issues. I don’t mean to single out the law profession. It’s certainly interesting and extremely demanding. But, not everyone is made for it.
I think we all experience a point in our life when we get a lucrative job but not satisfying. If you do find a satisfying one, it’s not lucrative. Given a choice, I am sure we will all opt for the ones that are fulfilling. But, many times you have no choice. You made to the American dream of a big house and satisfaction will not pay your mortgage or your child’s college education. But, assuming all your other needs are satisfied, would it make sense to choose satisfaction and meaning over money? It does set you thinking.
Sapna Iyer
I'm Sapna Iyer. I am a program host at EBC Radio, and enjoy connecting with my listening audience. I also work as a Digital Marketing consultant covering emerging digital solutions, especially using marketing technology to connect communities.
Website:
http://www.sapnaiyer.com/
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