Page 6 - NC Triangle Vol 6 No 5
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INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE
Bill Powers
By Bob Friedman
It’s no secret that lawyers have some of the highest rates of suicide, depression and substance abuse. In a wide-ranging discussion, Charlotte attorney and former NCAJ President Bill Powers discussed with Attorney at Law Magazine Executive Publisher Bob Friedman ways the industry can get ahead of the curve.
ing there must be a baseline of general information and knowledge.
AALM: I’ve spoken with a num- ber of lawyers who said the spiral into substance abuse and mental problems sometimes begins with the pressure they feel because their client may have their life, their business or their family on the line.
one way. We both battle tremendous self-doubt. The first step in effectuating change is to identify and acknowledge the problem.
I think law school should be more like medical school. We could easily limit classroom time to two years and mandate a period of residency, where law students are forced to work with “attending attorneys” in various profes- sional fields and practice groups in that last 3rd Year.
Powers: We need to change from stem to stern the culture of the prac- tice of law. We must acknowledge we are subject to all the frailties of being human. We are under a tremendous amount of pressure, more so now than ever. Cell phones and the demand for instant gratification make the practice extraordinarily difficult. We need to be cognizant of the fact that it’s okay to admit we are imperfect. People like me need to admit we have weaknesses. My mentor and I, someone I basically wor- ship, Joe Cheshire, are similar in at least
AALM: There are is a high inci- dence of substance abuse and men- tal health issues among law students. Would this be a good entry point to re- direct the tide?
Powers: Law schools have the op- portunity to be a part of the solution, beginning with education on mental health from day one.
AALM: And that speaks to the chal- lenge faced by new lawyers who aren’t getting mentored by experienced attor- neys.
I think law schools could do some- thing even more basic, both more funda- mental and truly pragmatic, that would be a game changer. Here it is: Admit less students, limit the amount of debt, and give future practicing attorneys more practical, hands on experience. We learn through experience, understand-
Powers: Young lawyers are putting up shingles because there aren’t jobs out there, so they have to create a prac- tice for themselves. They take cases to pay the service on the debt. They don’t have anyone to talk to. They don’t have guidance and culturally, the very things


































































































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