On the Record

By: Caryn Tamber

Is your job making you miserable? Fabulous!

As Above the Law points out, a new study indicates that having a negative outlook “makes people less gullible, improves their ability to judge others and also boosts memory” — all helpful qualities for the successful lawyer. Cranky-pantses are also better at “stating their case through written arguments.”

I don’t know that I’d go as far as ATL did with its headline, “Depression Makes You a Better Lawyer.” The article on the study doesn’t mention depression, which is a different animal than just being sad and probably makes you a lot worse at your job.

Still, isn’t it good to know that all that unhappiness and dissatisfaction might actually make you a better attorney? And that will increase your workload, which will in turn increase your tsuris, which will make you unhappier, which will make you even more amazing at your job.

Wait, wait: so being sad makes you less gullible, better at sizing up other people, and a more persuasive writer? Hm, I wonder what other type of professionals could benefit from those qualities.

I think I’m going to go watch The Notebook and have a good cry. Pulitzer Committee, watch out.