Are lawyers more stressed than doctors?

Asked by: Shad Mertz Jr.  |  Last update: March 31, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (24 votes)

Listokin and Noonan compared Kessler 6 scores from lawyers and medical professionals (medical doctors, veterinarians, and dentists) and concluded that lawyers did endorse slightly higher distress scores than doctors, yet they found no statistically significant difference in the rates of mental illness between the two ...

Is law the most stressful profession?

Lawyers are among some of the most stressful occupations, according to a recent analysis made by the Washington Post, which used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The study found that “a white collar [job] appears to come with significantly more stress than a blue one.”

Is being a doctor the most stressful job?

In general doctors have one of the most stressful professions that there are.

Is being a lawyer mentally draining?

While there are fewer studies on burnout in other professions, lawyers, for example, experience exceedingly high rates of depression, anxiety, and stress, all of which can co-exist with or drive burnout.

Do lawyers suffer from anxiety?

If you're a lawyer, you're probably right. It's not your imagination: A recent study found that almost more than 1/4 of lawyers suffer from anxiety and/or depression. That's more than double the rate in other similar-level professional cohorts, where the rate of similar symptoms is closer to 11 percent.

She needed a lawyer more than she needed a doctor

16 related questions found

What is lawyer syndrome?

The syndromic lawyer syndrome ("SLS") refers to a malady. suffered by lawyers, judges, and, especially, legal academics.2. SLS typically affects lawyers most severely when applying rules. of evidence and, in particular, the rules governing the admissibil- ity of expert testimony.

Is becoming a lawyer harder than a doctor?

Becoming a doctor would seen to be more difficult than becoming a lawyer, using educational requirements, length of studies, and financial considerations as the metrics.

What is the least stressful lawyer job?

Real estate law, estate planning law, and intellectual property law are commonly cited as the least stressful types of law to practice.

Why do most lawyers quit?

Part and parcel of stress, many lawyers struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance due to the demanding nature of the profession. According to a survey conducted by the American Bar Association, more than half of all lawyers are dissatisfied with their work-life balance.

What specialty has the highest burnout?

Emergency Medicine‍

Emergency medicine is the primary physician specialty with highest burnout.

What's the hardest doctor to be?

Neurosurgery. Among the most demanding medical specialties, neurosurgery requires expertise in the intricate realms of the brain, spine, spinal cord, and nervous system.

What is the happiest doctor job?

1. Plastic Surgery. Plastic surgeons top the list as the happiest medical specialty, with 71% considering their life outside of work happy. Being a plastic surgeon means you'll be able to make a difference in people's lives from all kinds of backgrounds.

Is law or med school more stressful?

Although both law and medical schools present their unique challenges, it's generally accepted that medical school demands a higher level of intense coursework and thorough training.

What is the easiest lawyer to be?

The easiest law to practice is often considered to be estate planning.

What is the highest stressful job?

Here are some examples of the most stressful career options:
  • Physician. National average salary: $272,872 per year Primary duties: Physicians or doctors are medical professionals who treat various diseases and injuries. ...
  • Nurse. ...
  • Soldier. ...
  • Patrol officer. ...
  • Anesthesiologist. ...
  • Chief executive officer. ...
  • Lawyer. ...
  • Police officer.

Is being a lawyer high stress?

Do lawyers have a lot of stress? Yes, lawyers often experience a great deal of stress. The job can be quite demanding, with long hours, difficult clients, high expectations, and sleepless nights. Additionally, the pressure to win cases and achieve success can be intense.

What is the hardest thing for a lawyer?

12 common challenges that lawyers face
  • Outsourcing. ...
  • Law school debt. ...
  • Establishing a reputation. ...
  • Debate. ...
  • Long hours. ...
  • Challenging clients. ...
  • Work-life balance. ...
  • Occupational stress. Occupational stress refers to the sum of all challenges that a lawyer may face during their career.

Who is the lowest paid lawyer?

We find that within the legal industry, certain segments are known to offer lower compensation. Typically, public defenders, legal aid attorneys, and lawyers working for nonprofit organizations are among the lowest paid.

What is more prestigious doctor or lawyer?

In general, a doctor. This does not mean every doctor is more prestigious than every lawyer. One reason would be that there are significantly fewer doctors than there are lawyers. I hasten to add that the help a person could get from a practitioner of either profession is priceless.

What is the highest paid lawyer?

Highest-Paid Types of Lawyers
  • Patent attorney: $180,000.
  • Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.
  • Trial lawyer: $134,000.
  • Tax attorney: $122,000.
  • Corporate lawyer: $115,000.
  • Medical lawyer: $113,000.
  • Real estate lawyer: $98,000.
  • Family lawyer: $93,000.

Is being a doctor stressful?

According to the World Health Organization, “Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” When it comes to the medical field, physicians are at a high risk for burnout due to the long hours and high-stress nature of their jobs.

Do lawyers have ADHD?

In a 2016 ABA study on lawyer well-being, 12.5 percent of lawyers reported having ADHD, compared to 4 to 8 percent of adults generally. With lawyers reporting roughly double the rate of ADHD as the general adult population, it's important to understand the ADHD brain and how it can work for attorneys, not against them.

Do lawyers get PTSD?

Prevalence: 11% of lawyers met criteria for PTSD DSM–5. PTSD symptoms, depression, functional impairment, burnout and STS were consistently higher among attorneys than among admin support staff.

What is the hardest lawyer job?

By far, criminal law is considered the hardest law to practice on an emotional and daily level. Being a criminal defense lawyer brings with it several challenges, including long hours, navigating complex legal codes and dealing with emotionally charged situations.