Comments on: CLE & Positive Psychology

By: Dave Shearon

Dave Shearon — Sat, 19 May 2007 17:02:18 +0000

Tim, that survey is a bit surprising. My first questions would go to the survey and its methodology. What instrument was used and what do we know of its properties? If it were only 1000 professionals surveyed, how many responded? How many respondents were lawyers? Was the difference between lawyers and other groups statistically significant? I would hope so since they published it, but would want to make sure.

As to recent data, I am currently analyzing a large dataset that includes lawyers and other professionals. I am not finished yet, but I have looked at happiness figures and lawyers do NOT show up as the most happy. As for other recent surveys, a doctoral dissertation published in 2004 by Mary Howerton (UNC-Charlotte)reports on her study of the North Carolina Bar. Over 27% of the respondents were depressed. Fifty-three percent had pessimistic attributional styles with males and younger lawyers being the most pessimistic.

There are some other reports that seem, on the surface, to run contrary to the idea that lawyers are unhappy and depressed, including the “After the JD” study by the NALP Foundation for Law Career Research and Education and the American Bar Foundation. However, as far as I can tell, it only asked about job satisfaction and the published report I have does not give any information on the instrument used. That report also states that _Urban Lawyers: The New Social Structure of the Bar_ (Heinz, Nelson, Sandefur, and Laumann. University of Chicago Press) found levels of career satisfaction highly correlated with income. Again, I do not have details on the instrument or methodology, but the suggestion that income mattered significantly raises questions in my mind as to what was being measured. Certainly, this doesn’t seem to square with the weight of well-being research.

Hope this helps. I’d love to hear more about your work with the law firm.

By: Dave Shearon

Dave Shearon — Sat, 19 May 2007 16:16:00 +0000

Candace, positive psychology could make the basis of a great CLE for pulic defenders. However, it might take some positioning and negotiation with PACLE to get it approved. I’d be happy to work with you on it. Email me at dave.shearon@yahoo.com.

By: Tony Wright

Tony Wright — Sat, 19 May 2007 09:21:50 +0000

Dave - I’m a big fan of your work and commitment; and I’m hoping to run a positive psychology programme for a law firm with whom I’m working presently. That said, I was surprised by a recent survey of 1,000 professionals in the UK by recruitment consultant Badenoch and Clark that contradicts your assertion of lawyers as significantly more depressed than the population as a whole and than other professions’. B&C’s survey (available at The Lawyer - http://www.thelawyer.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=125890&d=122&h=24&f=46) cited lawyers as the most satisfied constituency among professional employees.

I wonder if you have any additional, recent research to support your assertion; or indeed any take on the research cited in The Lawyer?

By: Candace Cain

Candace Cain — Sat, 19 May 2007 01:36:37 +0000

Hi. I am a public defender in Pittsburgh and have explored the idea of creating a CLE based on Positive Psychology. I’d love to talk to others interested in this topic.

By: Dave Shearon

Dave Shearon — Fri, 18 May 2007 14:00:01 +0000

Thanks, Senia. I think lawyers, as a profession, have in some ways just become numb to the emotional, affective aspects of our professional, collegial, and, too often, personal lives. The lack of energy, commitment, and engagement is just accepted as a fact of life. As you say, positive psychology and positive organizational studies offer some pathways toward a better profession. My engagement right now is with building a sense of self-efficacy in leaders of the profession to move along those pathways.

Thanks for all you’ve done to make this site a reality!

By: Senia Maymin

Senia Maymin — Fri, 18 May 2007 11:32:20 +0000

That’s a HUGE visual result, Dave.
I like your entire thesis that “ok, this is the status quo, but Pos Psych has already often dealt with these status quo issues like energy and engagement, so let’s apply some Pos Psych results to this situation.” Once you say it, it’s such a clear, “of course, why not!?!?” analysis! Make a lot of sense.