Law Most Challenging Field in Nation for Placement

The law continues to be a challenging field in which to find employment. See "Where The Jobs Are," by Chana R. Schoenberger of the Wall Street Journal (citing simplyhired.com)(cited by Debra Cassens Weiss, ABA Journal at "Legal Field Is Nation's Most Difficult Industry for Job Placement, Employment Website Says"). Utah Lawyers Helping Lawyers is happy to speak with attorneys who seek employment, client development, and alternative careers. Please call LHL at (801) 579 - 0404.

Better Communication Between Management and Associates Contributes to Boston Firm's Increase in Associate Satisfaction

In addition to increased pay for midlevel associates, better communication between the executive committee of Foley Hoag, Boston, MA contributed to the largest jump in associate satisfaction of the firms surveyed by American Lawyer in 2011. See "Why Foley Hoag Midlevel Associates Are Happier: Money and Better Communications," by Debra Cassens Weiss at www.abajournal.com (citing "Ranking Midlevel Satisfaction" at www.americanlawyer.com ).

Very Large Caseloads and a Tough it Out on One's Own Attitude Contribute to Stress Felt by Australian Public Denfenders

Criminal defense practitioners of Legal Aid New South Wales, Australia face high levels of stress according to a staff health survey. See "Legal aid lawyes buckle under work stress," by Geesche Jacobsen, The Sydney Morning Herald, www.smh.com.au . Contributing to the high stress experienced by staff of Legal Aid NSW were the very high caseloads and an organizational culture of "toughing out" problems on one's own rather than seeking help. Due to the very serious nature of consequences faced by many criminal defense clients, practitioners are strongly advised to prioritize self care and to seek help when it is needed.

Celebrate Utah Recovery Day

Please support Utahns who are in recovery on Recovery Day, as sponosored by Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness. The mission of USARA is to support individuals and their families in all stages of recovery from alcohol and other drug problems. The organization will identify and advocate for needed services related to substance misuse, infuse hope, and increase public awareness that long-term recovery is a reality. According to www.utahrecoveryday.com, "Each September, in support of National Recovery Month, USARA sponsors events held throughout the state of Utah to celebrate the recovery efforts of individuals, families and communities affected by addiction to alcohol and other drugs" (Id.) "The Recovery Day Celebration events are free to the public and will be a family friendly event. Local community leaders will speak in support of individuals, family members and friends of people in Recovery. Many public and private agencies will be hosting exhibit booths with information about substance use prevention, treatment and recovery resources in the community. USARA depends on our community partnerships and collaborations to establish resources that engage people in recovery activities, where they experience support from others who have found ways to live healthy and fulfilling lives without the dependence on alcohol and drugs," (Id.) Please attend Recovery Day celebrations in Park City on September 9, 2011; in Ogden and in Provo on September 10, 2011; in Tooele on September 15, 2011; in Salt Lake City at the Gallivan Center downtown on September 17, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; and in St. George on September 22, 2011.

CUNY New Lawyer Solo Practice "Incubator" Is Model Program

Martha Neil, www.abajournal.com, writes that the City University of New York program to teach and mentor new lawyers in their solo practices is a model program for other law schools. See "CUNY Incubator Program to Help New Law Grads Go Solo Is Now a Model for Other Schools".

Evidence Most Useful Law School Elective According to Survey of George Washington University Law School Alums

Evidence was the most useful elective in law school to alumni of George Washington University Law School acccording to Orrin Kerr, a GW professor. See "Interesting Survey on What Elective Courses Lawyers Wish They Had Taken in Law School and What Courses Were Most Useful" at The Volokh Conspiracy (as cited by Nathan Koppel in "One View on the Most Useful Courses in Law School" of the Wall Street Journal Law Blog)(as cited by Debra Cassens Weiss in "Most Useful Law School Elective Was Evidence, GW Alumni Survey Finds" at abajournal.com).

Billable Hours Higher, Satisfaction Lower for 3rd, 4th and 5th Year Associates

Billable hours have risen and satisfaction has dropped for third, fourth and fifth year associates according to Victor Li, AmericanLawyer.com in "Under Pressure: Welcome to the postrecession world. Demand for legal services is up-- associates billed an extra 80 hours last year-- but hiring is slow. One small consolation: Salaries are at their highest level in five years. Phew," (as cited by Debra Cassens Weiss, abajournal.com in "Billable Hours Rise and Midlevel Associate Satisfaction Drops").

Big Firm Lawyer Pursues Dream of Becoming English Teacher

Former big firm lawyer Gene Buzzard now teaches English to middle school students and enjoys it according to Jason Ashley Wright in "Attorney gives up law to become beloved eighth grade lit teacher" at www.tulsaworld.com . Buzzard practiced law for thirty years before pursuing his love of teaching.

Inadvisable to Charge Least Expensive Rates in Town

Timothy J. Storm says that charging the least expensive rate in one's market is one of the biggest business mistakes a lawyer can make. See "The Five Biggest Mistakes Lawyers Make" by Helen W. Gunnarsson in the September 2011 issue of the Illinois Bar Journal (as cited by Debra Cassens Weiss in "Why It's a Mistake to be the Cheapest Lawyer in Town" at www.abajournal.com). Deeply discounted rates disincentivize the lawyer and cause the client to lose confidence that the original rate or the discount were uninflated.

New Yorker Magazine Article Draws Attention to Anosognosia, or Poor Insight into One's Own Mental Illness

Rachel Aviv tells the tragic story of a northeastern woman who starved to death in a vacant farmhouse after having been diagnosed with mental illness including anosognosia, or poor insight into her own mental illness. See the abstract of "God Knows Where I Am: What should happen when patients reject their diagnosis" at www.newyorker.com. For more information about anosognosia, see "Anosognosia: The Most Devastating Symptom of Mental Illness," by Kevin Thompson at Improve Your Brain or www.mentalmeds.org .

LHL Free 1 Hr Ethics CLE tmrw Fri Aug 26 12:00 ULAJC 645 S 200 E SLC "Tips for Healthy Stress Management"

Please come to the Utah Lawyers Helping Lawyers free 1 hour Ethics CLE* on
"Tips for Healthy Stress Management" tomorrow, Friday August 26, 2011 12:00 noon at the Utah Law and Justice Center, 645 South 200 East in Salt Lake City, UT.
* CLE credit pending

Innovative Therapist Has Struggled with Her Own Mental Health and Come Out the Other Side

Benedict Carey tells the story of the struggle for mental wellness of Marsha M Linehan, PhD, a pioneer of dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT in "Expert on Mental Illness Reveals Her Own Fight" at www.nytimes.com . Dr. Linehan received in patient treatment for self injury and has gone on to give hope to supersuicidal patients.

Review your schedule to ensure that it promotes your best decision making

John Tierney writes about the importance of one's schedule in making decisions in "Do You Suffer From Decision Fatigue" at www.nytimes.com (as cited by Debra Cassens Weiss in "Study of Israeli Parole Board Shows Why Good Scheduling Promotes Better Decisions" at www.abajournal.com). Israeli inmates received parole more frequently when their cases were heard earlier in the day or after breaks.

Wisconsin Judge Dead from Gun Shot Wound, Appears to Have Been Suicide

A Wisconsin judge has died from a gunshot wound which appears to have been self inflicted. The judge enjoyed a reputation as being particularly caring and active member of the community. See "Wis. Judge Found Dead of Gunshot Wound in Apparent Suicide," by Martha Neil of www.abajournal.com. The demanding and exacting nature of the practice of law may contribute to the greater rate of depression in lawyers than the rate of depression in the general population.

To negotiate the best salary for a new job, prepare for the interview like a hostage negotiator would

The Federal Bureau of Investigation publication "Crisis Intervention: Using Active Listening Skills in Negotiations" describes how agents should communicate with suspects who have taken hostages. Jim Hopkinson of the The Wall Street Journal at www.wsj.com says in "How to Negotiate Your Salary Like an FBI Agent" that job applicants should use the same tactics when negotiating salary (as cited by Debra Cassens Weiss of the www.abajournal.com in "To Get a Higher Salary, Try Using Hostage Negotiator Tactics.")

Prominent Indiana attorney arrested for alleged operation of a meth lab

Grace Schneider of the courier-journal.com reported that a well known Southern Indiana criminal defense attorney was arrested for allegedly having operated a meth lab in her home. See "Corydon Lawyer Charged with Making Meth" as cited by Martha Neil of the abajournal.com in "Prominent Defense Lawyer Charged in Meth Case; Lab Allegedly Found in Her Home."

American Society of Addiction Medecine has issued new definition of addiction as a brain disease

John M. Grohol, PSYD of PsychCentral.com reports that the American Society of Addiction Medecine has published a press release to draw attention to the new definition of addiction as a brain disease which it issued earlier this year. See "Is Addiction Simply a Brain Disease? It is Now."

Alternative careers to law exhausting but fulfilling

Debra Cassens Weiss of the ABAJournal writes that two lawyers work very long hours in alternative careers but enjoy the satisfaction of pursuing their interests. Please see "Former Lawyers Pursue Alternative Careers and Find the Work Grueling."

ABA Resolved to Encourage Law Schools to Focus on Practice Skills

ABA Journal reports that the American Bar Association House of Delegates voted to ask law schools to teach more practical skills. See "ABA Urges Law Schools to Adopt More Practical Training for Students," by Rachel M. Zahorsky.

ABA Resolved to Request United States to Act on Studen Loan Debt

ABA Journal reported that the American Bar Association House of Delegates voted to ask the United States to act on the heavy student loan burden. See "ABA Asks US Government to Address Heavy Student Loan Debts," by Rachel M. Zahorsky.

Student at elite Canadian law school lost to suicide

ABA Journal reported that a student at York University Osgoode Hall Law School who had survived neglect as a child and prostitution succumbed to her depression and was lost to suicide. See "Former Teen Sex Worker Who Won Admission to Prestigious Law School Found Dead at 32," by Martha Neil.

Saturdays with Izzi: Life Lessons I Learned from Izzi Wagner

Saturdays with Izzi:
Life Lessons I Learned from Izzi Wagner

—by Jim Holbrook


For eight years, from 1997 to 2005, I went to lunch with Izzi Wagner at least once a week. This evolved into a ritual in which we had lunch every Saturday. Until the last six months of his life, he picked me up in one of his vintage cars and drove us to the men’s grill at his golf club. Until he could no longer drive because the batteries were dead in all his cars, he refused my offer to drive him.

Izzi did not have children and I was not close to my own father, so our friendship provided him with an opportunity to pass on his life’s wisdom to someone who deeply valued it. He taught me the need for friendship, the importance of independence, the wisdom of humor, the utility of street smarts, and the humility of gratitude:

NURTURE FRIENDSHIP: You need friends for leverage (i.e., to accomplish more things in life) and for fun (e.g., to play golf or gin rummy). You need friends from many backgrounds and different walks of life. You need lifelong friends for continuity and memories. You need a few close friends for trust and advice. To have a friend, be a friend. Be faithful to your friends (unless and until they abuse your friendship).

VALUE INDEPENDENCE: You need to be independent professionally, financially, spiritually, and politically. Get out of debt as quickly as possible, pay off your mortgage, pay for things with cash. Do not be motivated by a desire for power, approval, or revenge. Do not live for money. Do what it is you are supposed to do. Let money come to you as the butterfly that lands on your shoulder while you are absorbed in doing what you enjoy.

USE HUMOR: Teach others indirectly through your jokes and stories, especially through self-deprecating humor. Humor is an essential interpersonal skill: it can charm or at least disarm strangers; it can level differences in power, gender, age, education, and wealth. Humor can create mutual understanding, respect, and tolerance, because we hate what we fear, and we fear what we don’t know, but we embrace what makes us laugh.

APPRECIATE STREET SMARTS: Honesty, loyalty, common sense, curiosity, and hard work are personal attributes that have practical significance. Life is not a “zero-sum” game in which you get ahead by taking advantage of others. Life is a “repeat-transaction” game in which you get ahead by having partners who feel fairly treated and who want to do business with you again and again on just your handshake.

Influence others with their self-interest. Leave something on the table in each transaction. Take your winnings and invest them in the next new deal. Bet on other people and their vision, acumen, and dreams: their success will enrich you personally and (often) financially, as well.

BE GRATEFUL: If you understand life like Izzi did as a Jew, you will know pogroms, diaspora, and Holocaust—and you will feel in your bones that there, but for undeserved good fortune, go you and yours.

Why you are chosen for your lot in life is an unanswerable mystery. Know that, if your life had been only slightly different, you would not have health or meaningful work. You do not understand why your life was spared in a terrible war by a mosquito that gave you malaria. Or how it was that you met the one woman you loved and all your dreams came true in 51 years of marriage.

Care about and do something for those who need you. If life should smile on you with fame or fortune, be generous in using them to help others. Remember the city that was your home and the place of your happiness. Create a tribute to the memory of the most important people in your life. Make possible for others the chance for fulfillment that blessed your own life.

And remember, life is asymmetrical: the old man you see in the mirror is not the young boy you feel in your heart. Do what you can today—for, if not now, when?

LHL to present at CLE's on April 15 and 16, 2010

Utah Lawyers Helping Lawyers will present at two continuing legal education seminars this week.
Tomorrow, Thursday April 15, 2010, LHL will speak on stress and burnout at the Utah State Bar new lawyer mandatory new lawyer CLE. Also, LHL will staff a table at this event and hand out stress balls at the end of the CLE.
Friday, April 16, 2010, Sean Hullinger, Esq. will speak at an LHL professionalism and civility lunchtime CLE seminar.
For more information on either of these events, please visit www.lawyershelpinglawyers.org or www.utahbar.org to register to attend.

"Stressbusters" from futurevisions.org

I was researching stress management techniques and found the site at http://www.futurevisions.org/stressbusters.htm This is a large page which has many suggestions.

My favorite advice from futurevisions.org is the following:

18 things we can learn from a dog:
1. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
2. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
3. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
4. When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience.
5. Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.
6. Take naps and stretch before rising.
7. Run, romp and play daily.
8. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
9. Be loyal.
10. Never pretend to be something you’re not.
11. If what you want is buried, dig until you find it.
12. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle.
13. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
14. Avoid a bite when a simple growl will do.
15. On hot days, drink plenty of water and lie under a shady tree.
16. When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
17. Delight in the simple joy of taking a walk.,
18. No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout….run right back and make friends.

Read futurevisions.org and let me know what tips might be useful to you.

Maintaining one's temper as relates to civility and professionalism

Utah Lawyers Helping Lawyers supports the civility and professionalism movement in the law and presents continuing legal education seminars on these topics. If practitioners were more civil, LHL believes that they might experience less stress and consequently, fewer conditions which are caused by or exacerbated by stress, such as burnout, anxiety, depression, etc.
Part of being more civil and professional includes maintaining equanimity. In the practice of law, arguments may become heated. However, it is difficult to apply one's best legal reasoning if one's mind is clouded by loss of temper.
I found the below quotes which describe the importance of not losing one's temper at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/temper_3.html
"It is very important not to lose your temper in a courtroom, or in anything else you're doing," Warren Christopher.
"Keep you temper. A decision made in anger is never sound," Ford Frick.
"Men are like steel. When they lose their temper, they lose their worth," Chuck Norris.
"One should not lose one's temper unless one is certain of getting more and more angry to the end," William Butler Yeats.
"Temper is a weapon that we hold by the blade," James M. Barrie.

Inspirational quotes on self confidence

I found some inspirational quotes at http://www.self-improvement-advice.org/self-improvement-quotes.html . The website has inspirational quotes divided by topic.
"Confidence is courage at ease," Maher.
"Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong," Macintyre.
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear," Twain.

An office pigeon and problem gambling in March

There was a bit of excitement at the Utah Lawyers Helping Lawyers office in downtown Salt Lake City yesterday afternoon. The administrative assistant Marianne opened the door to the office to find that she was only the second one into work that day. There was a pigeon in the office! The pigeon seemed fine and Marianne was able to put her into a bank box and to release her into the alley between the Clift Building and the American Towers condominium buildings. Marianne could find no evidence of how the pigeon came to be in the office. Perhaps the pigeon played a role in some pre April Fool's Day fun.
On a serious note, The Society for Human Resource Management reports that a third of United States employers have policies which prohibit participating in NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament "March Madness" or other office gambling pools. Traditionally, March is one of the busiest times of the year in gambling. If you believe that you or someone you love might have a problem with gambling, please consult Utah Lawyers Helping Lawyers, Blomquist Hale Consulting, Gamblers Anonymous, or other resources.

Protect Yourself When Closing a Law Practice

Considering closing a law practice? Click on the title of this blog post and read "Plan Every Step Before You Walk Away: Closing a Law Practice the Right Way," by law practice management consultant and California lawyer Ed Poll so that you might best protect yourself.

Utah State Bar gives tips to help unemployed and underemployed lawyers

Please read "Helping Unemployed/Underemployed Lawyers," by Stephen W. Owens in the March 2010 Utah Bar Journal, found by clicking on the title of this blog. This is a short article which contains many valuable tips which I have found that many successful, practicing lawyers follow as a matter of course. Advice includes, "Declare yourself an active lawyer in private practice," "Write an article or speak on unique legal topics," and "Get involved in the community." Thank you, Steve, for this helpful article.