Live a ‘remarkable life’ as a lawyer By Louise Mathias|08 February 2021 There are many privileges that come with being a lawyer: intellectual stimulation and challenge, social status and prestige, career options, generally high salaries and the ability to contribute to others, to make a difference, writes Louise Mathias. In a high-status and high-responsibility profession, like law, it’s a given, you are likely working long hours, with high levels of stress and anxiety. You focus on not making any mistakes, always “perfect” and smart, having to know all of the answers, all of the time, with ever-present, fear of professional disciplinary proceedings, disapproval, career backlash or “losing” looms large. You struggle to control your thoughts, ruminating constantly about matters or clients, what work needs to be done in short time frames, managing clients, competition and conflict, which often make you feel overwhelmed and not present. You may be struggling with depression or substance abuse, looking great on the outside and feeling “less than” great inside. You have a work-life conflict and you often sacrifice other areas of your life to meet your “to do” list, as your professional success is often your sole focus and as a result you prioritise career over family and friends, which means you can’t be at the dinner table or the kid’s extracurricular activities, you are living in different “time zones”.