The People’s Therapist displayed his legendary tact and discretion during a recent interview with the lovely and talented Kashmir Hill, Associate Editor of the esteemed yet tasty legal blog, AboveTheLaw.com.
Despite my best efforts, tongues appear to be wagging regarding certain shocking revelations about The People’s Therapist’s previous incarnation as a high-powered Wall Street lawyer at Sullivan & Cromwell, a top white-shoe firm. To put it bluntly – though I am loathe to – I told the truth about the toxic environments at big law firms, and the psychological toll they take on the people who work there.
Twitter is a-buzz and Buzz is a-twitter with these shocking revelations. Facebook is…uh…blue in the face.
Curious?
Here’s the link for the interview.
For more juicy brilliance from the lovely and talented Kashmir Hill, you can also check this out this site (highly recommended by The People’s Therapist.)
Those of you with heart conditions or delicate sensibilities – please exercise caution.
This material may be inappropriate for young children or those recently graduated from law school.
The People's Therapist 
Loved the interview. As a therapist turned lawyer who could very well be turning back to therapy (via published book and classes to re-license in NY), I concur. It was a great read and I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. Thanks much.
Susan J. Elliott, J.D., M.Ed.
Author: Getting Past Your Breakup: How To Turn A Devastating Loss Into The Best Thing That Ever Happened To You (Da Capo 2009)
http://GettingPastYourPast.wordpress.com
Susan – thanks for the kind words. Your book looks great. Nice to know I’m not the only therapist-lawyer hybrid out there!
Dearest Will –
For a little over 20 years I’ve worked in various legal environments as a paralegal and/or secretary and would experience feeling like the “office therapist” — for the past 5 years I thankfully found a non-litigating type law firm that provided some relief from that supplemental job description. Not surprisingly, many of the lawyers and staff there who had come from litigating environments continue nursing scars from their past law-firm lives. But also, those scars stemmed from their alcoholic family backgrounds, so settling into that work environment made emotional ‘sense.’ It takes other life happenings to shake that ‘sense’ ?
Up until this past December, I was taking care of my terminally ill mother in New York, taking leave from work, and eventually quitting, and realized something about myself.
Yes, I wanted my mom to be proud of me and my stable and well-paid career, but now that she is gone, I’m ready and willing, Will, for release altogether from legal work. I may pursue an MSW and then eventually work in hospice care. It’s such a fitting life work transition !
I encourage you to write that book on your experiences because your insights are needed and more smart students considering law could turn their attention to teaching and health care for those rewarding professions they seek.
Keep up the great work, Will ! You are an inspiration to me…and you will be an inspiration to others who know what we know — it just has to float to the surface with the help of a lifeguard or two.
Sincerely,
Legalstaff Nomore
Thank you for that lovely comment. I wish you good luck, and happiness in whatever you do. You are an inspiration to me, too – and, I’m sure, to many others.
Hi, after reading this awesome piece of writing i am too happy
to share my experience here with mates.
all the time i used to read smaller articles
that as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this article which I am reading
at this time.
Wow, this piece of writing is nice, my sister is analyzing these things, therefore I am going to
convey her.
This post provides clear idea designed for
the new users of blogging, that really how to do running a blog.
Hello, yup thiss paragraph is in fact pleasant and I
have learned lot of things frdom it regardding blogging.
thanks.