Imagine a lawyer. Maybe you have a picture in mind—someone hunched over a desk, head buried in legal documents, another late night for a stoic defender of justice. While often accurate, this picture leaves out a lot about what’s going on for the lawyer themself.
According to a 2023 study published in the journal Healthcare, “Stressed, Lonely, and Overcommitted: Predictors of Lawyer Suicide Risk,” lawyers deal with suicidal ideation “at an exceedingly high rate.” Lawyers are more than twice as likely to have contemplated suicide (10 to 12 percent) compared to other adults (4.2 percent). Such findings are nothing new. A 2016 study in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, “The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys,” found that 20.6 percent of lawyer survey respondents had “hazardous, harmful, and potentially alcohol-dependent drinking,” and significant levels of depression, anxiety, and stress when compared to non-lawyers.
While the legal profession had historically been one in which lawyers muscle through their struggles alone, that mindset is fortunately becoming less the case. Each year, as a part of Mental Health Awareness Month, the WSBA and legal organizations from around the country come together to recognize Well-Being Week in Law. This year’s theme is “Tending Joy.” One of the best ways to bring a little joy and a new perspective into your life is through reading. And what better place to find your next favorite book than the WSBA Lending Library, a free service to WSBA members that offers short-term loans of books on topics such as wellness, as well as practice management, career development, and more.
With that spirit in mind, here are five book recommendations on wellness and lawyer well-being.
The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brené Brown
Author Brené Brown writes, “We cannot selectively numb emotions, when we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.” In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brown discusses the everyday barrage of images and messages we all receive about who we are and how we should be. This can lead many to feel inadequate when they’re unable to live the perfect life society seems to tell them they should live.
According to Brown’s website, “This book is an invitation to join a wholehearted revolution. A small, quiet grassroots movement that starts with each of saying, ‘My story matters because I matter.’”
Trauma Stewardship, by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky
A longtime trauma worker, Lipsky offers a deep and empathetic survey of the often-unrecognized toll on those working to make the world a better place. We may feel tired, cynical, numb, or like we can never do enough. These, and other symptoms, affect us individually and collectively, sapping the energy and effectiveness we so desperately need if we are to benefit humankind, other animals, and the planet itself. Joining the wisdom of ancient cultural traditions with modern psychological research, Lipsky offers a variety of simple and profound practices that will allow us to remake ourselves—and ultimately the world.
The Legal Brain, by Debra S. Austin
The Legal Brain is an essential guide for legal professionals seeking to understand the impact of chronic stress on their brain and mental health. Drawing on the latest neuroscience and psychology research, the book translates complex scientific concepts into actionable advice for legal professionals looking to enhance their well-being and thrive amidst the demands and stressors of the profession. Whether you are a law student, practicing lawyer, judge, or leader of a legal organization, this book provides valuable insights and strategies for building resilience, maintaining peak performance, and protecting your most important asset—your brain.
Becoming a Restorative Lawyer, by Brenda Waugh
In Becoming a Restorative Lawyer, attorney and scholar Brenda Waugh invites readers to reimagine the very foundation of legal practice. Drawing from decades in the field, she offers a powerful critique of the adversarial legal system, which too often prioritizes winning over understanding, resolution over repair. Her vision is different: a return to the human heart of justice. Rooted in the principles of restorative justice, Waugh redefines the lawyer’s role as a facilitator of connection, dialogue, and accountability. Through personal narrative, deep reflection, theory, and practice-based insight, she challenges legal professionals-and all justice-seekers-to rethink what justice means, and to begin practicing law in ways that center healing, dignity, and human connection.
The Creative Lawyer, by Michael F. Melcher
If you are not sure what you think about your career, it will give you a framework for sorting things out and moving forward amidst ambiguity. Brilliantly written, consistently practical, and filled with scores of illuminating exercises, including many new ones, The Creative Lawyer is the book that the profession has been waiting for. “Professional satisfaction,” the author writes, “is a question of creating what you want, not just waiting for it to appear.” The book will:
- Give you a template for envisioning and managing your own professional development, whatever path you choose.
- Help you to manage your career so that you can stay happy.
