There is much negativity when it comes to job satisfaction in the legal profession. But that doesn’t mean every lawyer exists in misery. We’ve come across happy lawyers before without really considering the best route to being one. Let’s face it, most are happy grateful to have a job, prospects and a decent salary – particularly with a recession going on. But if happiness was on the list of priorites at the start of one’s career, wedged somewhere amongst other considerations like money, status and interesting work; which legal paths are most likely to lead there?

In posing that question one could ask any number of lawyers but, if they are generally miserable, the answer might not be terribly satisfactory. So how about a lawyer turned therapist instead.

The People’s Therapist: It’s hard to be happy at any career when you can’t find a job, or half the offices on your floor are empty and there isn’t enough work to go around and you’re worrying about whether you’ll have a job next week.  I see clients from other industries who are also affected by the economic downturn, such as folks in the fashion and retail world, many of whom are struggling with long-term unemployment, and even bankruptcy and foreclosure.  They’re not exactly brimming with high spirited fun either.

The difference is that those people love what they do.  They’re just out of work.

With lawyers, even the ones who have well-paid jobs seem – mostly – unhappy.

Nevertheless, in keeping with this week’s theme of cheerful good times, we’re going to ignore them – and talk about happy lawyers. Bouncy, perky, downright merry, good-time lawyers.

I have seen a few happy lawyers. They exist, and they tend to fall into two groups.

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Hear that – two groups; there’s hope yet.