Anyone who has had sufficient contact with lawyers knows that the business of law has more than the average rate of psychopaths. So, there was no need for Kevin Dutton to confirm in his book "The Wisdom of Psychopaths" that law ranks as the line of work with the second largest number of psychopaths. BUSINESS INSIDER sums that up nicely.
However, only some psychopaths possess the wisdom Dutton discusses. Part of that wisdom is sufficient self control, realistic assessment of odds in risk-taking, and complete focus. Others aren't wise and the majority of them over-reach, including excessive risk-taking, and wind up in the slammer, chronic drunks, or on disability because of a psychiatric disorder.
Often their antics are downright stupid. One noted attorney along the Northeast Corridor didn't pay his federal taxes. Instead he lived high, which seemed to consume all his funds. He's now in prison. Another baited partners in ways that he assumed demonstrated his superior intellect. When he didn't make partner he had a mental collapse and cannot do any kind of work which brings in income. If he weren't such a narcissist he would likely commit suicide. No such luck, though, for his wife and children. A third with a useful family pedigree blew that through drink. He is still practicing law but barely.
In my field of communications there is that same flaming out among the leaders in public relations. They rise high, then crash, make it half way back, crash again. Eventually they lose the laser-like focus they had and can't engineer any more comebacks.
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