A study by Floriday State Unversity of 7800 bar members across four US states found that autonomy, the feeling of competence and interaction with others were most important to a lawyer’s mood and life satisfaction.  In contrast, money, grades, and “prestige” jobs such as working in large firms or in corporate had a negative effect.  Judges and public-service lawyers are the happiest whilst attorneys in general practice, private criminal defence, and family law are the least satisfied.

Source: ABA Journal