Authentic Happiness and Meaning at Law Firms

Abstract

We advocate that law firms can and should foster authentic happiness and meaning in the professional lives of their associates. Based upon empirical and experimental research in behavioral economics and positive psychology, we consider how law firms can implement policies to promote authentic happiness and meaning in their associates' professional lives. We also believe that law schools can and should help to reduce the anxiety, stress, and unhappiness that individuals feel as law students and help them develop abilities to achieve meaningful careers as law firm associates. We provide a guide as to how law firms and law schools can design policies and procedures to nudge people towards achieving more authentic happiness and meaning in their professional (and personal) lives if people so desire.

Keywords: authentic happiness, positive psychology, subjective well-being, signature strengths, meaning, law firm associates, quality of life

JEL Classification: D60, D63, I131, K10, K30