Trigger warning: suicide

Last week Above the Law reported about a second associate suicide at the firm Sheppard Mullin.

This one made the press, but how many didn’t?

This is also following the suicide of Chelsie Kryst, former lawyer and Miss USA.

I watched Chelsie Kryst’s last TikTok.  She spoke to the question of why she stopped practicing law.

She could barely speak about the billable hour and the microagressions she experienced as a Black woman in the law.

This is no joke.

That ATL article on was not even focused on the fact that it was the second suicide at this firm, but on partner’s insensitive handling afterwards.  Apparently he told the traumatized associates to pick up the work that their colleague collapsed under.

This is insane. Seriously.

The culture of big law is not changing quickly.

Last week I ran a workshop on self-compassion.

The women who participated spoke about their expectations to somehow be better than “a typical human being”.

And how this got in the way of allowing self-compassion. Kristen Neff defines self-compassion as requiring these core components:

1.   Self-kindness: Be gentle and understanding with ourselves, rather than harsh and critical

2.   Recognizing our common humanity – that our suffering is part of the shared human condition

3.   Mindfulness – that we hold our experience in balanced awareness rather than ignoring or exaggerating our pain

Neff also wrote:

One of the most robust and consistent findings in the research is that people who are more self-compassionate tend to be less anxious and depressed.

Yes, we each have to take 100% responsibility for our lives AND part of that is choosing where we spend our time.

I don’t know what was going on for Susan Ingargiolia, the THIRD year associate who killed herself…

But I do know this.

Big law exacerbates anxiety and depression.

How much is staying in (big) law costing you?

The anxiety?
Being chained to the computer?
Drinking too much, ordering too much takeout?
Snapping at your sweetheart or kids?
Not being able to enjoy an evening or weekend without working?

Imagine how good it would feel to…

Feel relief and alleviate your anxiety.
Not feel disappointed in yourself that you have stayed another year.
Curl up on a weekend with a good book, and actually meet your friends for brunch or a hike without guilt or worry?

In WILL you gain the ability to do all this and so much more.

To be kinder to yourself.
To discover what else lights you up.
To choose your life over the firm’s.

If you are ready to save your life, book a call here and now. 

By following YOUR heart… and demonstrating to yourself and others that you CAN leave (big) law for something else you love… you might show someone it can be done, and inadvertently, save another life along the way.

What do you stand to gain by booking a call? What do you stand to loose if you don’t?