The power of positive psychology: part one

The recession is lingering like an unwelcome house guest. The legal job market is improving, but slower than anyone wants. The honeymoon stage of the fall semester is over. Law school reading assignments are likely piling up. Days are getting shorter.

What’s a stressed out law student to do? How can you cope with pressures of law school while maintaining some semblance of a balanced life?

Psychologists in the field of Positive Psychology study exactly these questions and lucky for us, some have even turned their attention to the well being of lawyers and law students.

In a three-part blog series, we’ll hone in on some on the tenants of Positive Psychology, which is simply the study of conditions that lead to optimal functioning. Put another way, it’s a shift in focus from a traditional psychology model of bringing individuals from -5 to zero to getting them from zero to +5.

Last year, a law professor at George Washington and a psychology researcher from the University of Pennsylvania collaborated on an article called Stemming the Tide of Law Student Depression: What Law Schools Need to Learn from the Science of Positive Psychology (www.abajournal.com/uploads/2010/06/PetersonArticle.pdf).

What they discovered, and what other researchers in the field have confirmed, is that lawyers are almost four times more likely to suffer depression than employed persons in general. Law students are more anxious and depressed than the general population, and even when compared to medical students.

These levels of depression and anxiety appear to increase during law school, contrary to popular belief. And law students show a higher regular use of alcohol and drugs than high school and college graduates of the same age.

What’s going on? Is the Socratic method to blame? The famously strenuous workload? The competition?

The authors of Stemming the Tide theorize that none of these easy targets are actually to blame. They cite research that identifies the problem, at least in part, as a shift in the motivation and values of law students away from community service and values and toward a focus on appearance and things. Research suggests that many law students begin to pursue goals less for their own enjoyment (intrinsic motivation) and more to meet the expectations of others (extrinsic motivation).

Other Positive Psychology researchers have pointed to the prevalence of a pessimistic explanatory style in law students as the underlying factor in student depression. Such an explanatory style attributes the causes of negative events to stable, persistent, global factors rather than those that are temporary and changeable. In other words, a reaction of “It’s going to last forever and undermine everything” rather than “It’s not that bad, and it will get better.”

The question then becomes harder to answer—if law students are at risk of depression, what can they do to better set the table for happiness? What makes people happy?

In our next Career Services blog posting, I’ll suggest some specific, practical ways of coping with the rigors of law school that have nothing to do with taking good notes or preparing more diligently for class. And in our final posting in the series, we’ll tackle a trio of more theoretical but equally effective ways of moving from zero to plus five. Throughout these two postings, the focus will be on openly acknowledging and combating the two problems identified by the relevant research—(1) a shift in motivation from intrinsic to extrinsic and (2) a pessimistic explanatory style.

Todd Rogers, Assistant Dean for Career Services

Back to the grind: a 3L’s perspective on the beginning of a new school year

Once again, it’s the beginning of another school year and I’m sitting around wondering where my summer went. I spent a good portion of my summer studying for the MPRE and working in the Rockhurst University Athletics Department doing some compliance work. I did manage to sneak off to San Diego for a couple weeks and catch the first weekend of the College World Series up in Omaha. As my Mom said, “You better enjoy it now, because starting next summer, you’ll be working full time.”

What Mom didn’t warn me about was that “3L-itis” sets in about 2 days into the semester and that searching for a job that will allow me to pay off my student loans is turning in to a full-time job in itself! Add job hunting to my 15 hours of class, my part-time job, and what you get is a very busy semester! I am in no way complaining – in fact I’d rather be busy and have things to get my mind off of class. I’m enjoying being a part of the real world, even if it is only for 10 hours a week. Searching for a job, while not the most exciting thing I’ve ever done, is really rewarding when I get a phone call or email saying that I’ve landed an interview.

Hopefully I can report back in a few weeks (or months) and tell everyone that I’ve landed a fantastic job in a really fun city, but until that happens I’ll continue sending out resumes, cover letters, and transcripts while trying to stay on top of my reading and outlines. I’m not completely consumed with school and job applications; I’ve managed to find time to catch some KU football games and play some golf, and once basketball season starts (October 15 is Late Night in the Phog) I will be camping in the Fieldhouse and attending the games like any other KU student.

I’m definitely looking forward to my last year as a full-time student, but getting more excited every day to walking down the hill at graduation in May!

Courtney Johnston, 3L

Islamic Law Students Association supports Muslim students, aims to improve understanding of Islam

The Islamic Law Students Association (ILSA) was created in 2007 with dual purposes in mind. On one hand, ILSA provides a networking platform for Muslim students at Green Hall to help and interact with each other. Considering that ILSA includes students from varying nationalities and academic backgrounds, it offers a wealth of experience among its members and the opportunity for all Muslim students to utilize it. In this regard, ILSA strives to aid Muslim students not just with career development, social life and academic and religious issues.

On the other hand, ILSA seeks to further diversify and improve all students’ understanding about Islam and Islamic law. In this vein, ILSA does not limit itself to Muslim students but invites all KU students to discuss any concerns or questions they have about Islam and Shari’a. ILSA hopes that with open discussion it can distance Islam’s image at the law school from terrorists and fundamentalists, provide a more receptive atmosphere for Muslim and non-Muslims alike, and explore the future of law and economics in Islam.

Elena Delkhah, ILSA President

Learning the law in London

My name is Josh Williamson, and I am currently a 3L here at the University of Kansas School of Law. During the 2010 spring semester, I had the opportunity to study law in London as a participant of the London Law Consortium. (In addition to KU Law, the London Law Consortium is comprised of six other law schools located throughout the U.S.) Needless to say, I had a number of unique and memorable academic and cultural experiences.

The consortium campus is located just a few minutes from the British Museum, in the Bloomsbury neighborhood of London. Having never been to London before, I elected to live just a few blocks from campus with a couple of other consortium students. I was very happy with this decision because, as it turned out, the campus is within easy walking distance of sights such as Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Chinatown, Leicester Square, Regent’s Park, Buckingham Palace and Parliament, just to name a few. It also meant I had a short walk to class each morning and could easily return to campus in the evening, after some sightseeing in the afternoon, to study if the need arose. However, many of the consortium students elected to live in various other neighborhoods throughout London and were equally pleased with their decisions. Really, no matter where in London students choose to live, the consortium campus is easily accessible via the numerous surrounding tube and bus stations.

The consortium building itself is open 24 hours, allowing students continuous access to the computer lab, classrooms and various study areas.  The building is also equipped with a student lounge, library, visiting faculty offices and wireless Internet. In the immediate vicinity of the building, there is a grocery store, a FedEx, a very well-equipped YMCA and multiple pubs and eateries perfect for grabbing a quick bite to eat.  Also nearby, and essential to the existence of every law student, is a two-story Starbucks with ample study space and people-watching opportunities. With everything so conveniently located, I found that I had more than enough time to fully experience London while still managing a full class load.

Given that the consortium only accepts a limited number of students each spring, the classes themselves were small and extremely interactive. Professors from assorted consortium schools travel to London and teach the U.S.-based law courses, while the English/European law courses are taught by English professors. Throughout the semester, I got to know both my professors and fellow classmates very well. I also really enjoyed the opportunity to participate in classroom discussions with law students from schools throughout the U.S. Everyone’s unique perspectives and experiences really contributed to keeping class discussions interesting and informative. Although the classes offered change each year, I took Federal Courts, English Legal Systems, English Legal Methods, European Union Law, and International Human Rights. There were other class options available, but this schedule gave me a total of 13 hours, which I found to be very manageable. One class I found to be especially interesting was English Legal Methods.

Similar to the Judicial Clerkship Clinic offered here at KU Law, the English Legal Methods course matches students with English barristers specializing in a variety of different practice areas. I was paired with a criminal defense barrister and was able to accompany him while he tried various cases in London’s famous Central Criminal Court. Throughout the semester, I observed high-profile rape, murder, attempted murder, and embezzlement cases. I was also able to accompany my barrister to other venues in and around London for prison visits and client conferences.  This experience provided me with firsthand insight into the English legal system, and I would highly recommend it to anyone planning on taking part in the consortium program.

Lastly, in addition to enjoying the neighborhoods of London, other students and I made it a priority to try and travel to other European countries each weekend. This was very easy given the relatively short distances involved, cheap flights and convenient access to local airports. Together, we managed to visit areas within England, Scotland, France, Austria, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland and Sweden.  For me, these additional trips really contributed to an already wonderful study abroad experience.

I found the chance to study law in a foreign country, while simultaneously being completely immersed in the culture, to be extremely rewarding. The experience has proven to be tremendously valuable to me, both personally and academically, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone even remotely interested in studying abroad. For additional details, please visit http://law.ku.edu/studyabroad.

Josh Williamson, 3L

The benefits of meditation for lawyers, law students

It appears that meditation has gotten a bit of a bad reputation thanks to a lot of misinformation. So I should probably clear some things up! Meditation is not in itself a religious practice anymore than pushups are. Granted, most religions do have some sort of meditative practice. However, the universal appeal of meditation not only points to its usefulness but also to it not being attributable to any one religion. Religion and spirituality are not a requirement for meditation or vice versa. Meditation is simply a practice of quieting the mind, giving it a short vacation.

In the legal profession, activity, achievements and results are rewarded. So why turn to meditation, which seems to be a non-activity with little achieved? Well, just as your body needs sleep to recover after exercise, your mind needs time to break away from the chaos of modern life. And if any of you have been as stressed as I have, you will know that your brain definitely does not stop when your head hits the pillow. As a matter of fact, it seems that the little monkey that lives in our heads is nocturnal.

So meditation can help give your brain a bit of a rest. But what else can it do?

  • Health benefits
    Meditation has been shown to help alleviate stress and anxiety, both of which are major predictors for heart disease. Decreased stress and anxiety leads to decreased probability of heart disease. On top of that, meditation has been linked to lowered levels of cortisol, a hormone released by the adrenal gland during times of stress. Cortisol increases blood sugar and counteracts insulin. Basically, it makes you chubby. Lowering levels of cortisol by decreasing your stress and anxiety may actually reduce your pant size. Not to mention less sick days!
  • Detachment
    OK, I really don’t like this word. How about, “You stop taking things so personally and getting annoyed at the little things.” Meditation helps build perspective by allowing us to detach ourselves from these little, annoying thoughts that bounce around in our heads. Now don’t confuse this with indifference! It just means you are able to keep a cool head in obnoxious times. And wouldn’t that be helpful as a lawyer?
  • Concentration
    Regardless of what you are doing, be it work, sports or music, concentration is an essential skill — especially today, with so many distractions. Many studies have shown that those who meditate regularly have heightened levels of concentration.
  • Spontaneity and creativity
    Thought has a tendency to run from A to B to C in a linear form. Many times this means that we focus on the past and the future with little time left for what is right in front of us. Just as meditation can help us concentrate by quieting that monkey mind of ours, it can also open us up to spontaneity and creativity — both of which are valuable qualities to possess in the legal industry.

This is just a short list. There’s so much more! It’s hard to imagine that doing something for such a short time everyday can have such a large impact. Want to get started? Come to Room 129 today at 12:30 p.m. and I’ll show you one way to do it. Can’t make it? Well Google “meditation techniques” and pick one that works for you!

W. Blake Wilson, Instructional & Research Services Librarian

A ‘best value’ in a tough market

Recently KU Law was honored as a top 20 “Best Value” in legal education by preLaw magazine. Law schools are honored if they meet four criteria:

  • Tuition less than $35,000 a year for in-state residents;
  • Average indebtedness of less than $100,000;
  • Bar passage rate higher than the state average; and
  • Employment rate nine months after graduation of 85 percent of higher.

We’re obviously proud of this recognition, as it confirms what we’ve been preaching about KU Law for years: that students receive a high-quality, affordable legal education that enables them to compete effectively in an increasingly ornery job market.

And just how bad is the market? While 2007 marked a 20-year high for entry-level legal employment, the national employment figure for the law school class of 2009 marked the lowest “nine-month” employment rate since the mid-1990s.

KU Law also saw its employment statistics decline during this time period. Utilizing the US News & World Report reporting methodology, 63.2 percent of the KU Law Class of 2009 was employed at graduation, and 89 percent was employed within nine months of graduation. These employment statistics will be reported to US News this fall and will appear in the April 2011 rankings issue.

Preliminary data from the Class of 2010 is illustrative of the legal market’s sluggish recovery. It was difficult for members of the Class of 2010 to find work in the summer of 2009, and many summer jobs did not produce paid, full-time offers.

The national offer rate to 2009 summer associates for entry-level positions to begin in the fall of 2010 fell by more than 20 percentage points, from 89.9 percent in 2008 to 69.3 percent in 2009. This is by far the lowest offer rate measured since NALP began collecting this data in 1993. The acceptance rate of these summer offers was 85 percent, an all-time high.

To date, about half of the KU Law Class of 2010 has reported employment.

In a tight legal market, the importance of minimizing law school debt is heightened. We mentioned Dan DiPietro’s comments on this topic in a summer blog posting, and they bear repeating in light of KU Law’s appearance in the top 20 “Best Value” list.

DiPietro is the managing director of the Law Firm Group at Citibank and visiting professor at Harvard Law School. Citibank’s Law Firm Group provides advice and services to over 650 law firms in the United States and London. The group lends to more than 200 law firms in the U.S. and UK, including over half of the Am Law 100.

At the National Association for Law Placement’s annual conference in late April, DiPietro spoke about trends in law firm profitability. The dominant theme was that 1998 to 2007 was a golden age of profitability, marked by strong growth in demand for legal services, double-digit revenue growth and client tolerance for steady rate increases. Associate attorneys were hired at a rate that corresponded to the strong growth in demand, productivity was relatively steady and the largest law firms outperformed the industry.

Over the last two recessionary years, DiPietro described six factors that combined to place enormous stress on the profitability of private law firms.

  • Client consolidation: Consider the financial services industry. Because of mergers and failing businesses, there are fewer clients doling out business to law firms.
  • Convergence and casting a wider net: For example, GE recently cut the number of law firms it employs from 400 to 200, and then again to 112. Large clients are actively seeking more attractive rate structures from their law firms.
  • Commoditizaton: Firms can become “expert” in a practice area quickly by hiring partners from other firms.
  • Heightened client demands: Clients want increased partner time but are less willing to accept high rates. This attitude has led them to cast a wider net when considering firms.
  • Intensifying price pressure: Clients are shopping for good value in all but “bet-the-company” cases.

These factors resulted in 2008-09 being marked by declining demand for legal services, rates increasing at a slower pace, profits per partner declining and the largest law firms underperforming the industry.

In closing, DiPietro noted that he has a daughter who just finished her first year of law school. As an applicant, she was admitted to a top 20 school with no scholarship, as well as a lower-ranked school with a 90 percent scholarship. She sought her dad’s advice about where to enroll, and DiPietro strongly encouraged her to enroll at the solid but lower-ranked law school where she could graduate with minimal debt.

It is DiPietro’s belief that due to uncertainty about the availability of jobs at large law firms paying six-figure salaries, it is wise for law students to get a good but affordable education that will enable them to consider the widest range of potential entry-level jobs.

Todd Rogers, Assistant Dean for Career Services