Here is an interesting study of law students, which might have implecations for lawyers in general. Kennon Sheldon, a psychology professor at the University of Missouri, and Lawrence Krieger, a law professor at Florida State, published a 16-page study:�Understanding the Negative Effects of Legal Education on Law Students: A Longitudinal Test of Self-Determination Theory.�
The study measured law student’s �subjective well-being,� their �need satisfaction,� their �perceived autonomy support,� and how motivated they were for a career in law. The study comes to various conclusions, including the conclusion that law school causes “students to ignore their own values and moral sense, undermine[s] students� sense of identity and self-confidence, and create[s] cynicism.�
Read more at the Wall Street Journal’s law blog: Are Law Students Emotional Wrecks?
See also...
July 6th, 2010 at 9:48 am
Great article. There’s a broader pro/con breakdown at Debatepedia.org that incorporates these and other arguments:
http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:_Law_school#Con