RAISING THE BAR: WHY NEW JERSEY SHOULD RECONSIDER ITS MENTAL HEALTH INQUIRIES ON THE BAR EXAM
Author: Summer Cordasco
The combination of long hours, conflict-driven work projects, and demanding work environments has helped to establish the high-stress reputation of the legal profession. In 2016, a study of almost 13,000 attorneys funded by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs found that 20.6% of the attorney participants screened at a level consistent with problem drinking, 28% were experiencing signs of depression, 19% were experiencing signs of anxiety, and 23% were experiencing signs of stress. For many attorneys, stress is not something new. While in law school, prospective attorneys are faced with the pressures to meet strict deadlines, keep up with large amounts of reading, and land the best internships, all while competing with their classmates for the best grades on the grading curve.