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October 20, 2006
Work-life balance is a dumb-ass issue.
[Note on 3/8/07: Life at the Bar by Julie Brown was a fabulous blog in October and its a fabulous blog now. WAC? just has a different take on the issue.]
There's another good post touching on the "work-life" issue, this one by Julie Brown at Life at the Bar. I'm not an expert, but here's what I know and think about work-life balance for lawyers, especially junior ones:
1. Practicing law is hard and demanding--even for brilliant, diligent and accomplished people. I've said this before. No big deal.
2. If you wanted just a job, you got into the wrong line of work.
3. WLB is "your" problem--not mine. Each one of us creates our own quality of life as we learn to lawyer, keep lawyering and serve clients.
4. If you are a job-hunting student or young lawyer expecting my firm to support a regime of work-life harmony, please try another shop. Your problem. We are happy and well-rounded people who work our asses off. It frightens us and makes us angry that you would ever think practicing law could be easy in the beginning. People twice as smart and as hardworking as you paid huge dues to be able to call himself or herself a "lawyer". Go away.
5. Color me Midwestern. It's privilege to work. It's a privilege to practice law.
Posted by JD Hull at October 20, 2006 10:24 AM
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