Dear Friends in the Law,
With summer arriving just a few short weeks ago, I definitely feel the pull toward warmer weather, barbeques, and reenergizing for the academic year ahead. Classes generally tend to be less, vacations are being planned, and overall, there seems to be a renewed spirit in the air.
For my readers, I wonder how you are spending the summer. Are you working? Are you taking classes? Hopefully, this is also a season for you to get some well-deserved downtime.
Although it may feel counterintuitive, this is also the perfect time to talk about some tough subjects in the law. We don’t do enough to prepare for the tough parts of working in the legal field, and it is worth taking some time this summer to reevaluate your relationship with stress, your coping mechanisms, and the ways you can find balance.
Read on to find some common pitfalls in the legal profession, and how you can build healthy habits that can last beyond your time in law school.
Additionally, I encourage you to check out Gabriela Brunner’s articles in the Ms. JD blog as she is doing a deep dive on wellness in the legal profession. Her articles will give you instrumental feedback surrounding this topic.
Stress
One of the most prevalent topics of discussion surrounding the field of law is stress. You have most likely felt it before law school, and most likely feel it during law school. Between time management and the rigors of coursework, balancing your studies or career with a personal life, and setting yourself apart from your peers, stress can be a significant factor.
We know that stress may manifest in physical, mental, and emotional symptoms. Lack of sleep, physical pain, increased anxiety, lack of focus, and depression are just some of the ways stress can harm our lives.
And while law school and being a new attorney can be stressful, having a career as a lawyer can mean that stress is a continuing factor. Thus, let’s chat a moment about managing the stress in your life. Perhaps you have already found healthy ways of managing it, such as through working out, journaling, meditating, walking, or sharing your feelings with someone you trust.
Keep in mind that the goal is not the complete elimination of stress, but rather healthy maintenance. Without healthy maintenance, stress can become toxic and may lead to unhealthy traits.
Unhealthy Traits
Diving right into the next topic, unhealthy traits can be acquired or exacerbated with the stress of the legal profession. Abuse of alcohol and/or drugs can become a serious issue. Binge drinking, alcohol dependency, and reliance on drugs is not a new topic for those in the legal field. Pressure, stress, and unhealthy coping skills can lead to these dangerous habits. Additionally, social events centered around drinking, such as happy hour-style events, can make it even easier to fall into these unhealthy habits. I am happy to share that many are recognizing the relationship between social settings and alcohol and are finding healthier alternatives.
Such healthy alternatives can be a physical activity like taking a walk or hosting a yoga class. Opportunities like a bowling night or miniature golf can be another great way to let off some steam in a safe environment. Other ideas such as a book club, watch parties for a movie, and game nights can provide important social engagement without the need for alcohol.
Furthermore, unhealthy habits expand beyond problematic drinking and drug use. With busy schedules, deadlines, and the constant treadmill of work needing to be done, we sometimes neglect the needs of our bodies. Adequate sleep and rest, healthy eating, and exercise are some of the essential elements of well-being we forgo for our work. While we all may experience a week of not sleeping well here and there, or a “cheat” day to eat whatever we want, the behavior becomes unhealthy when it becomes a habit. As humans, we all have good days and bad, good habits and less than ideal traits; it’s important to be mindful of when something starts to seriously affect your well-being.
Which leads to my third and final segment on how to try and achieve balance.
What YOU Can Do Right Now
As law students, you probably have a lot on your mind. The summer can be a great time to re-group and focus. When law school is in full swing, sometimes it can be difficult to focus on yourself, on building good habits, and on managing the rigors of academics and the pressure of performing well. Thus, the first tip I would like to give is to get to know yourself well.
You may already have a good sense of your strengths, weaknesses, and coping mechanisms for stressful situations. For some of us, we are in the process of getting to know ourselves better. I encourage this season to be one of self-reflection. Get curious about your stress triggers and how you manage them. Find ways to incorporate mindfulness and healthy traits that you can utilize even with a busy schedule. Remember that perfection is not the goal. Rather, we keep learning, trying, and giving ourselves the grace to do better.
Additionally, this can also be an excellent time to understand what triggers stress for you. Is it an overwhelming homework load? The feeling of being behind? Lacking time to complete readings and class notes? Are you trying to balance academics with work, and not feeling you are giving both your best? Do you have leadership roles and extracurriculars that you balance with school? While not an exhaustive list, these types of open-ended questions can be a great way of assessing the year ahead and making adjustments to your schedule.
Take the time to plan ahead and intentionally schedule breaks, meals, and time for yourself during the busy academic year. If you are still figuring out your schedule, weigh decisions about the essentials that you need to accomplish, and where you can scale back a bit.
Guard your free time jealously. Free time is a rare commodity in law school—don’t squander it. And don't forget about your life before law school. Talk to a family member, close friend, anyone you trust that isn’t exclusively part of your law school self. This helps to ground you, and also maintain the bigger portion of yourself that isn’t tied to the legal profession.
Be mindful of instances where you may be putting yourself at risk. As the legal profession is a busy one, many lawyers cope with stress through dangerous behaviors. Stay away from illegal drugs and be mindful of alcohol consumption. Find healthy ways to unwind and relax; avoid substances that threaten your livelihood and even your life. You aren’t expected to be perfect, but you will be held to a higher standard as a lawyer. Start early and often in establishing healthy patterns. And if the stress threatens to overwhelm you, don’t be afraid to reach out for support and guidance.
The legal profession can be an overwhelming, stressful, and even lonely place sometimes. It is also one that is richly rewarding, necessary, and transformative. For the times that are less than ideal, be sure to surround yourself with good people, healthy habits, and opportunities to rest and refuel. It’s like the proverbial adage: when flying, put on your own oxygen mask first before assisting others. Keep this in mind as you hone your legal journey. Take care of yourself, and you will be an even better advocate for others.
Kristina Bilowus is an Assistant Director of Career Development at MSU College of Law. She is also the current Treasurer of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, vice president of the Hellenic Bar Association, co-chairs the DEI Committee for the Oakland County Bar Association and co-chairs the DEI Committee for the Ingham County Bar. She is also a board member for the Michigan Center for Civic Education.
