He was terrified what would happen if anybody knew he was sick or struggling in any way. If you show vulnerability it’s the kiss of death. You’ll be overlooked for projects or promotions. If people have any doubt that you would perform at the highest level you won’t be trusted.
— Marny Turvill, wife of Ian Turvill, who worked as chief marketing officer at Chicago-based Freeborn & Peters before he died by suicide in 2017, commenting on her late husband’s reluctance to let anyone at the firm know that he was suffering. Professional staff members at Biglaw firms are also under a lot of stress and pressure to perform their jobs well, but it seems as though all of the recent attention that’s been paid to mental health in the legal profession is being afforded only to associates and partners.
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.