What It’s Really Like To Be A Black Woman In The Legal Profession

It’s no big secret that most lawyers are unsatisfied with their careers. Studies show that lawyers experience depression at higher rates than the general population and have higher rates of alcohol and substance abuse. There are even some studies that suggest that “associate attorney” is the unhappiest job in America.

As a legal professional, those statistics alone are upsetting. What’s even more concerning is that, as a black woman and an attorney, I know those statistics only address the tip of the iceberg for us. How do you describe what it feels like to be a double minority, an African American and a woman, in one of the most unhappy professions out there? Well, I thought I’d give it a try.

The Legal Dream

When I thought about this issue, I went looking for research to confirm my feelings about the experiences of black women in the legal profession. Unsurprisingly, I didn’t find anything that painted the full picture. So I’m just going to tell you what I know for sure like Oprah.

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