Aug 31, 2026 · 13 min · 7 segments
***How do you say thank you after a job interview or follow up after a promising client meeting? How do you express appreciation for a mentor’s advice, or thank someone for a solid referral? Gratitude…
Lawyers deal with a lot of negativity and stress.
There's the cultural attitude that attorneys are somehow ever so slightly evil, an attitude preserved in terrible jokes, memes, and just regular conversation.
Then there are the perennially disgruntled people lawyers encounter daily.
The opposition, mean judges, losers, tire kickers, dock workers, zoologists and astronauts who maintain this perception.
The insane hours lawyers work don't help dampen the stress.
I'm married to a lawyer and I haven't seen her since 2007.
So yeah, lawyers are going through something all the time.
Anything that can tamp down that stress nugget is a good thing worth pursuing.
One way to mitigate the effects of all the negativity and pressure is by developing a practice of gratitude.
It's true.
Actively practicing gratitude can be transformative.
It can significantly improve mental health, overall outlook, and even relationships by reducing stress and fostering a more positive mindset.
Gratitude matters.
According to Gary Miles, cultivating gratitude can give lawyers joy, better sleep, better self-esteem, higher resilience, a sense of optimism, and the reason why we're here.
Improved relationships with clients.
And I would add that gratitude would also greatly grease your relationships within your firm or office.
Honestly, any relationship can be improved by a simple thank you.
Saying thank you makes anyone feel valued and reassured.
And in the competitive maelstrom of the legal profession, that kind of value matters.
Try it.
Just pop your head out of your office and tell your intern slash legal assistant slash office manager that you're thankful for their work.
Observe how it improves their attitude for the rest of the day.
A written thank you note straddles the gray area between business and personal.
By making the gesture, you are reaching outside the usual limits of your professional persona, the merest bit.
Lawyers deal with a lot of negativity and stress.
There's the cultural attitude that attorneys are somehow ever so slightly evil, an attitude preserved in terrible jokes, memes, and just regular conversation.
Then there are the perennially disgruntled people lawyers encounter daily.
The opposition, mean judges, losers, tire kickers, dock workers, zoologists and astronauts who maintain this perception.
The insane hours lawyers work don't help dampen the stress.
I'm married to a lawyer and I haven't seen her since 2007.
So yeah, lawyers are going through something all the time.
Anything that can tamp down that stress nugget is a good thing worth pursuing.
One way to mitigate the effects of all the negativity and pressure is by developing a practice of gratitude.
It's true.
Actively practicing gratitude can be transformative.
It can significantly improve mental health, overall outlook, and even relationships by reducing stress and fostering a more positive mindset.
Gratitude matters.
According to Gary Miles, cultivating gratitude can give lawyers joy, better sleep, better self-esteem, higher resilience, a sense of optimism, and the reason why we're here.
Improved relationships with clients.
And I would add that gratitude would also greatly grease your relationships within your firm or office.
Honestly, any relationship can be improved by a simple thank you.
Saying thank you makes anyone feel valued and reassured.
And in the competitive maelstrom of the legal profession, that kind of value matters.
Try it.
Just pop your head out of your office and tell your intern slash legal assistant slash office manager that you're thankful for their work.
Observe how it improves their attitude for the rest of the day.
A written thank you note straddles the gray area between business and personal.
By making the gesture, you are reaching outside the usual limits of your professional persona, the merest bit.
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