1. WHAT MAKES LAWYERS HAPPY? REDEFINING PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS
Larry Krieger, FSU Law

2. KEY ISSUES IN THE PROFESSION:
ETHICAL & PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR
WELL-BEING/SATISFACTION
MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTIONS

3. SHARED SOLUTION? and Performance
The key factors for Well-being also Integrity, Professionalism
and Performance

4. CURRENT LAWYER STUDY Four diverse states
7,800 respondents (6226 datasets)
Subjective Well-being … (“Thriving”)
(Feel satisfied? high or low moods?)
Standardized (Pearson) correlations

5. STUDY FOCUS or OBJECTIVE/EXTERNAL? WHICH FACTORS REALLY MATTER?
PERSONAL/SUBJECTIVE/”HUMAN”
or OBJECTIVE/EXTERNAL?

6. Objective “Success” Factors
1. Grades and money
2. Credentials (journals ...)
3. Status (prestige, partnership…)
4. Rankings (class, school, firm…)
5. All stressful (zero sum)

7. Subjective Factors 1. Human needs 2. Internal motivation
3. Intrinsic values
4. Supportive supervision

8. SPECIFIC FINDINGS: WHAT MAKES LAWYERS HAPPY?

10. (standardized correlations)
FIVE TIERS WB FACTORS
(standardized correlations)
SWB
Tier 1
AUTONOMY SAT.
RELATEDNESS SAT.
COMPETENCE SAT.
INTERNAL MOTIV.
.66
.65
.63
.55
Tier 2
AUT. SUPPORT
INTRINSIC VALUES
.44
.30
Tier 3
VACATION DAYS
CHILDREN
MARRIED/LT
EXERCISE
ALCOHOL USE
PRAYER (AFFIL.)
.23
.20
.18
-.12
.07
Tier 4
INCOME
SCHOOL DEBT
CLASS RANK
SCHOOL RANK
LAW JOURNAL
MADE PARTNER
BILLABLE HRS.
.19
.12
.05
.01
.00
-.10 
Tier 5
AGE
OTHER DEMOG.
.17

11. I. UNIVERSAL NEEDS FOR THRIVING
Autonomy /Authenticity (can make preferred choices, choices based on true values/interests, express true self; Integrity!)
Relatedness (feel well-connected to others generally, closeness, intimacy with important others
Competence (feel very capable, mastering hard challenges, successful at difficult tasks)

12. MOTIVATION AND VALUES FOR THRIVING
Internal Motivation
Activity is satisfying or enjoyable
Supports personal values/goals
Generates enthusiasm, energy, + results
Intrinsic Values/Major Goals
Self-Understanding & Growth
Intimacy
Helping others
Community

13. CONTRAST 1: Income, Law Grades, & Happiness, 4 Lawyer Groups
Lowest grades and pay (Service lawyers) --vs.-- Highest grades and pay (Prestige lawyers) But: Service Lawyers are Happier.

14. CONTRAST 2: “MAKING PARTNER”
Junior partners: status and 69% higher earnings. But……
Well-being no better than senior associates.

15. GOOD NEWS -- THRIVING IS SUBJECTIVE
Relationships to:
SELF OTHERS WORK SUPERVISOR
*Processes (not Outcomes or Objects)
*Not competitive (Low Stress )

16. FOCUS ON THRIVING! (75-25) YOUR CHOICES Reflection,Support
SELF/INTEGRITY
House/Car
AUTHENTICITY
LEARN/IMPROVE
ENJOYMENT
MEANING
COMPETENCE
RELATING
COMMUNITY
HELPING
JUSTICE
RESPECT
Prestige
Partnership
Competition
Appearance
KINDNESS
Gpa/law review..
Outcomes
Popularity
YOUR CHOICES
Reflection,Support
Winning
High Salary

17. AUTONOMY SUPPORT FOR THRIVING
Authority (supervisor, parent, etc.):
Appreciates other’s preferences, perspectives (Listen actively)
Gives meaningful choices
If controlling, explains why

18. BENEFITS OF AUTONOMY SUPPORT (WORK, SCHOOL, FAMILY)
Well-being
Integrity
Internal Motivation
Performance

19. SUMMARY ACTIONS
EDUCATE SELF & OTHERS: What creates a happy lawyer. Redefine “success”?
MAKE WISE CHOICES – life and career
+Preserve internal/personal qualities
+Choose internal motivations and values
+Fulfill the critical needs
+Seek autonomy support

20. Related Resources
What Makes Lawyers Happy? (SSRN or Geo. Wash. Law Review, 2015)
The Inseparability of Professionalism and Personal Satisfaction: Values, Integrity, and Happiness (Clinical Law Review, 2005)
Hidden Sources of Law School Stress (LK or Ebook)
Deeper Understanding of Your Career Choices (LK)
THANK YOU!