December 2000 

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Attorney Satisfaction High
in Minnesota

By John Sonsteng

"74.7 percent of Minnesota attorneys generally agree with the statement 'I am satisfied with the practice of law as a meaningful part of my life'"

We are often led to believe that most lawyers, male and female, young and old, city and country, big firm and small firm are dissatisfied with their profession. In 1997 and 1998, William Mitchell College of Law sent out a comprehensive 14-page survey to more than 1,700 Minnesota lawyers selected at random from the membership of the Minnesota State Bar Association. Preparation and mailing of the survey along with the statistical analysis was supervised by the University of Minnesota Center for Survey Research. Our research indicates that 74.7 percent of Minnesota attorneys generally agree with the statement "I am satisfied with the practice of law as a meaningful part of my life," while only 12.2 percent of the 1,038 respondents disagreed with the statement. Respondents were asked to rate their response to the statement on a seven-point scale, ranging from one for "strongly disagree" to seven for "strongly agree."

We were able to examine existing trends in attorney job satisfaction among variables including gender, size of practice, geographic area, number of years as attorney, and age. The results indicated that while male and female respondents are equally satisfied with the practice of law as a meaningful part of their life, female respondents indicate greater difficulty with such things as sleep, irritability, fatigue, and concentration. The results also indicated attorneys employed in small towns by firms of ten or fewer attorneys, and those employed by firms located outstate in areas with populations of more than 20,000 were least satisfied with the practice of law, and indicated greater difficulty with anxiety, sleep, depression, eating, anger, and irritability.

In the Minnesota data, there is not a statistically significant gender difference in overall satisfaction. Of the respondents, 72.3 percent of women and 75.3 percent of men agreed with the statement (scored a 5 or higher on 7-point scale), with 17.5 percent of women and 20.7 percent of men reporting that they strongly agreed with the statement. Only 14.1 percent of women and 11.8 percent of men disagreed with the statement on job satisfaction (scored a three or below on the seven-point scale), with only 2.8 percent of women and 1 percent of men strongly disagreeing with the statement.

Minnesota lawyers were also asked to rate their response to the statement "I am considering leaving the practice of law" on the same seven-point scale. Again, the results yielded no statistically significant differences between genders: 21.1 percent of women and 21 percent of men agreed with the statement (scored a 5 or higher on the 7-point scale), with 7 percent of women and 4.5 percent of men strongly agreeing with the statement. Further, 67.3 percent of women and 68.4 percent of men indicated they were not considering leaving the practice of law (scored a three or below on the seven-point scale), with 31.6 percent of women and 35.1 percent of men strongly indicating they were not considering leaving the practice of law. The Minnesota findings are similar to recent studies conducted in Chicago and Toronto.

In the 1997-98 survey, Minnesota attorneys were also asked to rate on a seven-point scale how often they experienced difficulty with the following: (a) Concentration; (b) Anxiety; (c) Sleep; (d) Depression; (e) Eating; (f) Anger; (g) Irritability; (h) Fatigue; (i) Isolation; and (j) Hopelessness. The ten areas (a-j) were included to assess emotional distress.1 The consistency of these items as a measuring device for emotional distress is supported through research and psychometric testing developed by Aaron T. Beck.2

 

John O. Sonsteng is professor of law at William Mitchell College of Law. This article is excerpted from one he coauthored with David Camarotto for a recent issue of the William Mitchell Law Review.

 Agree

Female 5-7

 Male5-7

 The results from these listed variables did display several significant differences between genders. Male respondents experienced all ten of the listed variables at a lower frequency than female respondents. There were significant differences in results between genders for the three of the ten variables. Of women, 27.4 percent stated that they had difficulty with sleep (scored between five and seven), while 16.3 percent of men recorded difficulty with sleep (11.1% difference); 16.4 percent of female respondents versus 6.5 percent of male respondents reported difficulty with eating (9.9% difference); and 50.3 percent of female respondents compared to 30.7 percent of male respondents reported difficulty with fatigue (19.6 % difference.)

Despite experiencing greater difficulty with all ten of the listed variables, women lawyers reported overall job satisfaction that was equivalent to male lawyers' satisfaction.

 Agree

Female 5-7

 Male5-7

"67.3 percent of women and 68.4 percent of men indicated they were not considering leaving the practice of law"

A National Survey of Career Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction, "The State of the Legal Profession 1990,"3 was conducted by the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. Testing a representative sample of over 3,000 attorneys and examining changes over time in lawyer's attitudes towards their work between 1984 and 1990,4 it provides a reliable means for understanding satisfaction/dissatisfaction among lawyers.

According to the 1990 Young Lawyers Division study, 20 percent fewer respondents in 1990 than in 1984 reported that they were "very satisfied" with their jobs.5 At the same time, more respondents in 1990 reported being dissatisfied with their work.6 The study also reported that 71 percent of all respondents in 1990 reported they "frequently feel fatigued or worn out at the end of the workday," compared to 61 percent who reported the same thing in 1984.7

In contrast to these findings of lower levels of satisfaction among lawyers today, there are several studies that have produced findings indicating that lawyers are generally satisfied with their occupation. In 1994 and 1995, American Bar Foundation researchers conducted face-to-face interviews with a random sample of Chicago lawyers.8 The 675 respondents rated their overall job satisfaction on a five-point scale that ranged from one for "very dissatisfied" to five for "very satisfied."9 Most Chicago lawyers were satisfied with their jobs, with a mean response of 4.21.10 There were no statistically significant gender differences in overall satisfaction; female respondents scored an average of 4.13 and male respondents an average of 4.24 on the five-point scale.11 Similar results were also cited in a 1994 Toronto-based study.12 Hagan and Kay's research on Toronto lawyers found that 81 percent of men and 78 percent of women reported they were either satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs in 1985 and 79 percent of men and 78 percent of women reported such satisfaction in 1991.13

Practice Size. Regardless of the size of their practices, Minnesota lawyers generally seem to be satisfied with their jobs. Respondents were split into subgroups of solo practitioners, 2-5 attorney firms, 6-10 attorney firms, 11-20 attorney firms, 21-50 attorney forms, 51-100 attorney firms, and firms consisting of 100 or more attorneys.

There are a number of differences in responses among the various practice settings in which Minnesota lawyers work. Respondents employed by firms consisting of 51-100 attorneys most frequently agreed with the statement, " I am satisfied with the practice of law as a meaningful part of my life": 84.2 percent of these respondents scored a five or higher on the seven-point scale, with 15.8 percent strongly agreeing with the statement. In contrast, respondents employed by firms consisting of 6-10 attorneys scored the lowest, with 65.8 percent of these respondents agreeing with the statement (scored a five or higher on the seven-point scale), and 15.8 percent strongly agreeing with the statement.

Minnesota lawyers in various practice sizes were also asked to rate their response to the statement, "I am considering leaving the practice of law," on the same seven-point scale. Attorneys employed by firms consisting of 51-100 attorneys, who recorded the highest degree of job satisfaction, also most frequently agreed that they were considering leaving the law practice. Of these respondents, 24.9 percent agreed with the statement (scored a five or higher on the seven-point scale), with 7.1 percent of respondents strongly agreeing with the statement. It is interesting to note that attorneys in firms of 2-5 attorneys indicated substantially more satisfaction than respondents in other small firms and indicated more satisfaction than all but respondents in firms of 51-100 people. Respondents employed by firms of 2-5 attorneys were least likely to consider leaving the practice of law: 18.8 percent of these respondents agreed with the statement, with 3.4 percent strongly agreeing with the statement.

Respondents in firms consisting of more than 20 attorneys experience the least amount of difficulty with factors of emotional distress. Some exceptions are the higher scores for respondents in firms of 21-50 attorneys in the area of concentration, and greater difficulty with fatigue for respondents in firms of 51-100 attorneys. Respondents in firms consisting of fewer than ten attorneys experience more difficulty with all other areas. Most notably, respondents in firms of 6-10 attorneys experienced the highest or next-to-highest degree of difficulty in eight of the ten areas: concentration, sleep, eating, anger, irritability, fatigue, isolation, and hopelessness.

Geographic Location. Minnesota lawyers practicing in different geographic locations also generally seem to be satisfied with their jobs. Respondents were split into five subgroups: (1) Metro Minneapolis/Saint Paul area; (2) Surrounding suburbs of Minneapolis/St. Paul; (3) Outstate Duluth or Rochester; (4) Outstate population of 20,000+ (not including areas already mentioned); and (5) Outstate population less than 20,000.

Respondents, in general, were satisfied with their careers, but there were some differences as gauged by geographic location. Respondents least likely to be satisfied with the practice of law worked in outstate locations comprising more than 20,000 people. Seventy percent of these respondents scored a five or higher on the seven-point scale, with 6.9 percent strongly agreeing they were satisfied. In contrast, respondents working at firms located in the suburbs of the metropolitan Twin Cities area were the most satisfied, with 79.6 percent of these respondents agreeing with the statement (scoring a five or higher on the seven-point scale), and 21.4 percent strongly agreeing with the statement of satisfaction.

When asked to rate their response to the statement, "I am considering leaving the practice of law," on the same seven-point scale, attorneys employed by firms located in the metropolitan Twin Cities area most frequently agreed with the statement. Of these respondents, 23.8 percent agreed with the statement (scored a five or higher on the seven-point scale), with 4.3 percent of respondents strongly agreeing with the statement. In contrast, respondents employed by firms located outstate in areas with a population of 20,000 or more least frequently agreed with the statement that they were considering leaving the practice of law: 13.7 percent of these respondents agreed with the statement.
Respondents in firms located in the metropolitan areas (Minneapolis/St. Paul, Metro Suburbs, and Duluth/Rochester) reported experiencing the least amount of difficulty with factors of emotional distress. In contrast, respondents located in outstate areas with a population of 20,000 or more appear to experience more difficulty. Attorneys practicing in these geographic areas scored the lowest on six of the nine variables.

Age. Minnesota lawyers of all ages are generally satisfied with their practice of the law. Respondents were split into five different categories: Less than 30 years of age, 31-40 years, 41-50 years, 51-60, and 60 years and above.

It is no surprise that attorneys 61 years or older reported being most satisfied with the practice of law: 94.1 percent agreed they were satisfied (scored five or higher on a seven point scale) while 41.8 percent strongly agreed they were satisfied. Attorneys aged 61 years or older, who recorded the highest degree of job satisfaction, also agreed with the statement concerning leaving the law practice: Of these respondents, 35.5 percent indicated they were considering leaving the practice of law (scored a five or higher on the seven-point scale), with 13.3 percent of respondents strongly agreeing with the statement. In contrast, respondents less than 30 years of age were least likely to consider leaving the practice of law: 15.8 percent of these respondents agreed with the statement, with 2.9 percent strongly agreeing with the statement. Respondents 31-40 years of age were least satisfied with the practice of law by a substantial margin and were more likely to consider leaving the practice than other respondents under the age of 50.

Attorneys 61 years or older reported experiencing the least amount of difficulty with emotional distress factors, recording the least amount of difficulty with nine of the ten variables. Attorneys under 40 years of age indicated more difficulty in all categories. Attorneys less than 30 years old experienced the highest or next-to-highest degree of difficulty in eight of the ten variables: concentration, anxiety, sleep, eating, anger, irritability, fatigue, and hopelessness. Attorneys 31-40 years old also experienced the highest or next-to-highest degree of difficulty in eight of the ten listed variables: anxiety, sleep, depression, anger, irritability, fatigue, isolation and hopelessness. For attorneys remaining in practice, the tables indicate that job satisfaction increases with age and difficulties decrease substantially.

Years in Practice. Minnesota lawyers that have been in practice for any number of years are also generally satisfied with their practice of the law. Job satisfaction grows with years in practice. Attorneys in practice 11-20 years are more likely to consider leaving the practice of law than other attorneys in practice less than 30 years. Here, respondents were split into four different categories: attorneys in practice 0-10 years, attorneys in practice 11-20 years, attorneys in practice 21-30 years, and attorneys in practice more than 30 years.

By a substantial margin, attorneys in practice for more than 30 years were more likely to agree with the statement than other respondents: 86.1 percent of these respondents scored a five or higher on the seven-point scale, with 34.4 percent strongly agreeing with the statement. In contrast, respondents in practice 0-10 years scored the lowest, with 67.7 percent agreeing with the statement (scoring a five or higher on the seven-point scale), and 15.4 percent strongly agreeing with the statement.

When responses from Minnesota lawyers were compared on the basis of the number of years in practice, the response to the statement "I am considering leaving the practice of law" indicated attorneys in practice 31 years or more, who had the highest degree of job satisfaction, also were most likely to consider leaving the law practice. Of these respondents, 34.9 percent agreed with the statement (scored a five or higher on the seven-point scale), with 11.8 percent of respondents strongly agreeing with the statement. In contrast, respondents in practice 21-30 years were least likely to consider leaving the practice of law: 15.3 percent of these respondents agreed with the statement, with 2.3 percent strongly agreeing with the statement.

Attorneys in practice 31 or more years report experiencing the least amount of difficulty with emotional distress factors, recording the least amount of difficulty with nine of the ten variables. In contrast, those attorneys in practice 0-10 years indicated that they experience the highest degree of difficulty in all ten of the areas, but are less likely to consider leaving the practice of law than those in practice 11-20 years.

1 Richard R. Wagner, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and practitioner in Minneapolis, Minnesota, recommended the ten areas to assess emotional distress.
2 See Aaron T. Beck, Depression: Causes and Treatment (1972). Dr. Beck's research has resulted in a testing instrument for depression, "The Beck Depression Inventory-II."
3 ABA Young Lawyers Division, "The State of the Legal Profession -- 1990" (1991).
4 See id. at 1.
5 See id. at 52.
6 See id.
7 See id.
8 See John P. Heinz, "Lawyers and Their Discontents: Findings from a Survey of the Chicago Bar," 74 Ind. L.J. 735 (1999).
9 See id. at 742.
10 See id. at 743.
11 See id.
12 See John Hagan & Fiona Kay, Gender in Practice: A Study of Lawyers' Lives, 155-56 (1995)
13 See id. For studies on job satisfaction in other professions, see U.S. Dep't of Education, "Schools and Staffing Survey" (1993-94) (secondary school teachers); Michael D. Burdi & Laurence C. Baker, "Physicians' Perceptions of Autonomy and Satisfaction in California," 18 Health Affairs, July-August 1999, at 134 (physicians); Mary Guptill Warren et al., "The Impact of Managed Care on Physicians," Health Care Mgmt. Rev., Spring 1999, at 49 (physicians); Jesse D. Beeler et al., "A Survey Report of Job Satisfaction and Job Involvement Among Governmental and Public Auditors," The Gov't Acct. J., Winter 1997, at 30 (accountants); Dale E. Marxen, "The Big 6 Experience: A Retrospective Account by Alumni," 10 Acct. Horizons, June 1996, at 73 (accountants); Dennis M. Patten, "Supervisory Actions and Job Satisfaction: An Analysis of Differences Between Large and Small Public Accounting Firms," 9 Acct. Horizons, June 1995, at 17 (accountants); Martha Sawyer Allen, "Minnesota's Clergy: Their Faith and Life: Pastoral Peace at Risk in Material World," Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul), Apr. 21, 1991, at 1A (clergy); Martha Sawyer Allen, "Minnesota's Clergy: Their Faith and Life: Catholic Priests More Likely to Say They're Satisfied", Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul), Apr. 21, 1999, at 16A (clergy).