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Identifying and Handling BAS (“Battered Associate Syndrome”) During Your Job Transition [by Dan Binstock] Practicing law as an associate in a law firm is typically highly stressful. But when the stress gets you to the point where it becomes all-consuming, you may be a victim of what I refer to as BAS, a tongue-in-cheek acronym for “Battered Associate Syndrome.” Read on to find out about this increasingly common syndrome, and how to keep it in check while you make a job change.
So you’ve had many less-than-stellar experi-
attorneys suffering from it, perhaps it is more
and physically-but you believe that you are
ences as an associate at your law firm. You’ve
apt to say “not yet”). But having worked with
locked into it, or that it is the best or only
spent countless all-nighters on a two-month
attorneys that have had to deal with highly
job you can get. And maybe, if you are like
document review in the basement of a chemi-
stressful law firm experiences, I can say that
most attorneys and have read about all the
cal plant located 300 miles outside of Boise,
the residual effects of these situations are
unemployed lawyers, you believe you were
Idaho. You’ve woken up in the middle of the
very real and can severely undermine one’s
“lucky” to land your job and should be grateful
night with cold sweats, realizing you forgot to
legal career.
that you have not been laid off. The danger with the above type of thinking (and why it
put a comma in a brief filed the previous day. You’ve gotten yelled at the next day for forget-
Before discussing BAS any further, it is im-
is a symptom of BAS) is that you are intel-
ting to put that comma in the brief. You’ve
portant to acknowledge the obvious fact that
lectually aware of your unhealthy situation,
debated whether taking a weekend stroll in
essentially all legal jobs carry an inherent
but continue to justify staying in this harmful
the park with your loved one justified passing
level of stress. Practicing law is, by its very
environment for any number of reasons.
up three billable hours. At times you’ve felt as
nature, challenging, difficult, complex, and not
if your entire self-worth as a person hinged on
for the faint of heart. An important distinction,
If you have made an affirmative decision to
whether a partner was pleased with your work
however, should be made. Feeling stressed
find a new job or have been asked to leave
(i.e.: nice comments from a partner = you’re
out and working hard are normal and par for
your current job with a set period for finding
on top of the world; negative comments from
the course. On the other hand, experiencing
a new job (recently-laid-off BAS), or have
a partner = you’re molded whitefish). You’ve
a loss of self-esteem, burn-out, and loss of
already left your job (post-BAS), you will likely
questioned whether the admissions counselor
control over your life is not par for the course
experience a temporary euphoria because a
at your law school must have been intoxicated
and can be indicative of BAS.
huge burden is lifted when one realizes that the BAS-causing situation has or will shortly
when deciding to admit you. You were blindsided by an unexpected layoff that was alleg-
There are three types of BAS: (1) current-job
end. It is absolutely crucial, however, to real-
edly based on poor performance, although you
BAS, (2) recently-laid-off-but-still-working
ize that the BAS symptoms and the residual
question whether that was the entire reason.
BAS, and (3) post-job BAS. If you are still with
effects can still linger and hinder your future
your current job, you may be thinking, “Yeah,
legal opportunities.
If you can relate to any of these, take note: you
Dan - I can relate to some of the examples you
could be suffering from the effects of “BAS.”
mentioned above and think maybe this whole
This article describes BAS, and then explains
BAS thing makes some sense in theory, but
how it can adversely affect you and your legal
isn’t this just a part of putting in my time and
The most common symptom of BAS is a loss
career. It then shows how using a professional
becoming partner? I mean, it’s just like this,
of self-esteem, with anger following closely
legal recruiter can help you avoid the common
or worse, at other firms as well. I chose to be
behind. The loss of self-esteem comes from
pitfalls that accompany BAS as you wind down
an attorney, worked hard, got a great job mak-
any number of causes, such as a high amount
at your current job and seek a new one.
ing lots of money to pay off my loans, so this
of criticism with little or no praise, feeling that
is what I signed up for. If I leave, I’m a quitter
you do not deserve a better job or believing
and failure. If I can stick it out, I’ll be ok in the
that you could not get a better job. Experienc-
long run.”
ing a loss in self-esteem will directly under-
What is “BAS”?
How BAS Can Undermine Your Career
mine your ability to practice law to the best
“BAS” is a tongue-in-cheek acronym for “Battered Associate Syndrome.” Is this a formal
This type of response is a common symptom
of your ability. For starters, you lose faith in
diagnosis recognized by mental health profes-
of BAS because you are aware that your situ-
your instincts, doubt your judgment, and avoid
sionals? Of course not (or given the number of
ation is unhealthy-probably both emotionally
asking necessary questions due to your fear
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