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If you desire less stress and hope to practice law to a ripe old age, take this to heart, literally and figuratively: Make it your hobby.
This has worked for me, but I wish I took this approach when I started in 1991.
Making it your hobby might be a stretch even if you are not your own boss, but it can still work because it is a systematic approach, not a goal orientated one.
The expected response to my premise is probably: “Well hobbies aren’t full time.” Or, “You job ain’t your hobby!” And to some extent, I agree.
The point is, and this is crucial: If it improves your health and outlook on life, at least consider changing your modus operandi.
While not a perfect analogy, how about a professional with a hobby that earned him a Nobel-Prize in 1912? Lexis Carrel, a surgeon who adapted lace-making and embroidery techniques — his hobby — into groundbreaking methods for transplant surgery.
So far, so good.
Ok, how can one accomplish this?
Take your daily list of “chores” and make a game of it: If you don’t use a hard copy calendar, this won’t work. Get one. Phones are far too stressful to rely on.
Let’s assume your list for this Monday has 9 tasks — letters, motions, legal research — the usual array. Solution? Do what you want to do first, the rest will come along much easier.
Try this and when it becomes habit you will see the reap the benefits which are enormous. That is, by the time you get to the most dreaded difficult task, it breezes through without a bump.
Refuse cases that your Spidey Sense tells you will be trouble: One of the first bits of advice I bot — force fed actually at one my first seminars — was from a very senior attorney smoking his cigar in the no smoking area — who told me, “It’s the cases you don’t take that shape your practice.”
Of course, we sometimes don’t have the luxury of refusing the horrible client. But this makes a big difference in your stress level.
Welcome the task of learning new things on in an adventurous way: If you don’t cherish learning new things, you probably picked the wrong profession. It is part of parcel of the mandate, is it not?
Read the cases online every day in your field of practice as soon they are posted online. You will find a plum at least once a month, if not more. Think of it as a puzzle, a maze if you will, and say to yourself: “Why did the COA publish this one?” Or, “Hmm, what are they trying to tell me?”
I promise you this will up your game substantially, especially if you fine a gem that is right on point in a pending case. It has happened for me several times. One more thing, save them in your own database.
Take pleasure in taking cold calls: Direct the caller in the right direction even if you realize early in the call you won’t get hired or it is an area you don’t work in. Most people when they call an attorney are lost, or overwhelmed or troubled. Being the calm voice makes their day.
To summarize?
Passion over profit; flexibility; continuous learning as a joyful task; helping others; controlling your workload.
You will see that within a week that you are much less stressed.
Anxiety, the thief of time and health, will eventually dissipate.
Why?
Because you turned the corner.
Lucky you.•
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Roy Graham is a criminal and family lawyer in Bloomington. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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