Does Being a Tennessee Divorce Lawyer Increase the Likelihood of Divorce?

Does being a Tennessee divorce lawyer act as a preventative against the breakdown of one’s marriage? Are you thinking about divorcing the divorce lawyer?

Does being a divorce lawyer increase the likelihood of divorce?

Some might assume that handling other peoples’ marital disputes day in and day out somehow imbues special knowledge that can be applied directly to one’s own relationship. Effectively immunizing the divorce lawyer from similar emotional upheaval.

With matters of the heart, however, divorce attorneys are just like everyone else. There are good marriages with minimal conflict. And there are untenable marriages where spouses argue, reconcile, then return to the ring to fight some more.

There are additional factors unique to attorneys that may contribute to divorce. Factors that have more to do with the profession than with picking the wrong mate. Take a look…

More Women Lawyers Want Out of Their Marriages

According to a 2008 study, women with professional degrees – business, medicine, law – are more likely than their male counterparts to divorce or separate.

Among other findings, researcher Robin F. Wilson, JD, a professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law, determined by surveying over 100,000 professionals (including attorneys) that the divorce or separation rate among women lawyers was 10% compared to 7% among male lawyers. That is a significant disparity. In an earlier study conducted by economist Sylvia Ann Hewlett, PhD, findings showed that high-earning “super-credentialed” women were more likely than not to be childless and single.

Higher Rate of Alcohol Abuse and Dependency Among Lawyers

In families where both spouses are heavy drinkers, the rate of divorce is generally higher. Given the often intense demands associated with the practice of law, it is not entirely surprising that some divorce attorneys desperately seek relief through alcohol, drugs, and negative behaviors.

What kinds of stresses motivate a percentage of practicing lawyers to self-medicate?

● Burnout from long hours;

● Grief from loss;

● Lack of regular exercise and proper nutrition;

● Inability to balance the demands of work with family life;

● Depression, anxiety, anger, and mood disorders (some of which may have gone undiagnosed and untreated);

● Other addictions (drugs, gambling, sex, food).

The rate of alcoholism among legal professionals is two times the national rate. Statistically, one in five lawyers has an alcohol abuse problem. Because of this, state bar associations across the nation have programs designed to offer their members help and treatment before mistakes harm clients, ruin reputations, and destroy families. The Tennessee Bar Association has its own confidential member service in the TN Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP).

Divorcing the Narcissist (Who’s Also a Divorce Lawyer)

Divorcing the spouse with a personality disorder can complicate dealings throughout the court process. In particular, divorcing the narcissist who also happens to be a divorce lawyer has the potential to really raise the bar in a contested case.

For the most part, the spouse with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) may lack empathy, have an exaggerated sense of self-importance, and display arrogance toward the other party in a divorce, among other attributes. To learn more about this personality disorder and its potential impact on the legal proceedings, take a look at Divorcing the Narcissist.

Contact a Memphis Divorce Attorney

Memphis divorce attorney, Miles Mason, Sr., practices family law exclusively and is founder of the Miles Mason Family Law Group, PLC. Check out The Tennessee Divorce Client’s Handbook: What Every Divorcing Spouse Needs to Know, available on Amazon and Kindle. To schedule your confidential consultation, call us today at (901) 683-1850.