I came across a fascinating survey done by the Florida Bar the other day. That organization, like its counterpart in Connecticut, has a number of committees exploring such issues as the effects of technology on the practice, whether law schools need to be changed, and whether different approaches to bar admission and legal service delivery should be considered. The Forida results mirror what I think Connecticut lawyers would say on most of the topics.

Their bar seems to be similar to ours with regard to practice groups—with about 60 percent in groups of less than five and 80 percent in firms less than 20 attorneys. About 75 percent practice solo or in firms, the rest in government, corporate (a small slice) and legal services (a tiny amount). Fees are not that different from those charged here, and, as expected, skew higher in urban areas.

Florida lawyers responding to the survey are mostly (about 75 percent) either somewhat satisfied or somewhat dissatisfied with their professional lives, but overall, by a 2-to-1 ratio, they are happy or OK with their lot in life. Younger lawyers are less likely to be happy than those practicing for six to 10 years, and much less than those practicing over 10 years. Men are slightly happier than women.