Working Weekends for More Family Time

Are you ready for this news flash? Lawyers are stressed out, overworked and, in general, do not lead balanced lives.

That is the conclusion of a report from the New York State Bar Association, after three years research and nine invitation-only forums held across the state. That extensive study of the lawyers' responses lead to "one central point," the study concludes: "They were all having a difficult time achieving a balanced life in the law."

Not exactly shocked or awed? Does this sound akin to discovering a traffic problem in midtown Manhattan?

And let's face it: At starting salaries of $160,000 a year straight out of law school, and hourly billing rate of $1,000 or more at the top of the game, it's a little hard to weep for lawyers' lack of balance.

Here are some choice "findings" from the N.Y. Bar report, a document that raises the question, once again, what purpose bar associations possible serve other than self-perpetuation:

• "Most law students and junior attorneys are saddled with considerable debt which requires them to forgo a more balanced lifestyle."
• "It seems that law is a very personal service — the client wants his or her attorney to be available 24/7/365." Yeah baby!
• "Blackberry is complex — it can be intrusive, yet so helpful in an emergency." Geez, I never would have guessed.
• "Many attorneys are 'Type A' personalities, perfectionists, very compulsive by nature, and are workaholics. To this extent we are part of the problem."
• "Attorneys are conflicted because they value high compensation but are hurt in the non-work aspects of their life by excessive billable hour or 'commitment' expectations." Has the New York bar heard that "profits per partner" are the three most magic of words to most lawyers in private practice?

You get the drift. The Bar's recommended solutions are about as obvious: Law firms need to re-examine the billable hours they require. You don't say? Would not hold my breath on this one.

"Law firms need to adopt and implement (their emphasis) policies that provide flexible options for lawyers and the firms in deciding on work hours and work setting."

In other words, these policies must exist beyond the piece of paper they are written on. Another nice idea.

The report also advocates for rules to be "set up and followed to limit the extent to which" clients have access to lawyers in their "personal time away from the office" on Blackberries and the like.

It talks of "boundaries" with the zeal of Dr. Phil, and, aside from the Type-A reference, seems to ignore that the 24/7 Master of the Universe model is exactly the game most associates at corporate law firms signed up for in the first place, and why some are wondering why they didn't go to work at a hedge fund.

The New York Bar's House of Delegates adopted the report unanimously — on Saturday.

So much for weekends with the family.

by Karen Donovan