Looking over our group he indicated soberly that, if statistics proved correct, about a third of us would be on the way to divorce court by the time we graduated. Many state bars now have programs to help salvage the careers of lawyers trapped in these destructive habits. Yet, as a whole, it sometimes seems that in the nitty-gritty of lawyering there is little empathy to spare. In the December 2000 Wisconsin Lawyer, the president of the state bar shared his personal journey with clinical depression. At one point, he headed into court for a hearing, knowing he was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Christian lawyers are also subject to the same pressures.
Strongly hinting at his personal problems, he begged the indulgence of opposing counsel for an adjournment of the case. The other lawyer refused. The fact is, the powerful problems that envelop our professional colleagues are not found only in the secular world. Christian lawyers are also subject to the same pressures and, unfortunately, the same catastrophic failures. The challenge for us is to intervene in the lives of fellow legal brothers and sisters in the Lord before catastrophic decisions are made.