Lawyer Long Hours Are Danger to Health

Michael Sean Quinn*


          Several massive, at least quasi-scientific, and therefore more-or-less reliable studies, indicate that long work hours increase the risk of stroke.  Since my brother, a paradigmatic workaholic suffered from a stroke a few years ago. I thought I might pass on the bad news.

          Brother “Job” (not his real name) was work obsessed; he was an addict of sorts, though in more than one way. It has to be confessed to me that he was a hard charger about what some might called a hobby, as well.

          In any case, the studies were general and did not focus on lawyers. Nevertheless, they indicated that in comparison to someone who works 35-40 hours a week, someone who works 41-48 hours a week has a 10% increase in having a stroke; 49-54 hours = 27%  increase; and 55-65  = 33% increase.

          There are problems with these studies.

First, it is not clear how lawyers in particular fit into the stats. Second, many lawyer fit into the 55-65 hours a week category, but this is not verified, at least not for me.

Third, the report of the study I have seen—admittedly a press presentation—does not make it clear how long the excess hours must continue before the risk of stroke increases.

Fourth, the report also does not indicate whether the increase in stroke increased during the time of working excessively or whether it continues thereafter, and if it keeps going, for how long does it do it, and what are the statistical differences as time goes by.
          Finally, percentages don’t mean much if one does not know the base line. For example, if there is a one third increase in the number of persons who will suffer a stroke and the base line is 3 in 10,000, then a one third in the number of people per 10,000 would be 4. But what it is 1 in every 10,000, and there is a one third increase, then what would the number?  Obviously, it is not going to be 1 1/3.

          Those in charge of the study suggest that risk reduction, aside from reducing the number of work hours, if more standing up and more exercise. (My other brother and our father was a dedicated golfer, and he lived until into his 90s. (No data suggests that golfing causes strokes, though good golf reduces strokes. This is true virtually by definition. Some people love jokes based upon ambiguity.) I would guess that more sleep should also be included in what mitigates the probability of sustaining a stroke. (In golf strokes are not inflicted or sustained, of course.)

          Now for a paradox.  Longevity to some extent is statistically tied to having wisdom.  Wisdom is how-to tacit knowledge, and that is to some extent taught by mentorship, doing it yourself, and independent studies. Some experienced lawyers have wisdom about the practice of law and some do not.  The acquisition of lawyerly wisdom taken an enormous amount of time and it is hard work to get it.  How does this fact fit with—or stack up against—the conclusion of the study being discussed here.  I for one would like to know this: What is the live span of the lawyer with “practice wisdom”? How does it compare with the life span of other groups? How are the number in the study affected if the lawyer is well loved and good at loving?

What about a lawyer addicted to heavy-duty multiple “partner” sexual pursuit?  I would be that this kind of effort should be included in the hour count.  Thus, if a male lawyer works 40 hours a week and spends another 20 chasing you-know-what, his risk of stroke increases by more than a third.
*Michael Sean Quinn, Ph.D., J.D.
The Law Firm of Michael Sean Quinn et
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