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Some Busy Lawyers Sleeping in On Site, Japanese-Style Sleeping Pods

By Cynthia Hsu, Esq. on August 08, 2011 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

If you're a lawyer, sleeping at the office sometimes seems inevitable.

Needing sleep on the job is especially true if you're in the midst of closing a huge deal, pulling in 16-hour work days.

For some lucky London attorneys, small bedrooms are set aside to allow some sleep-deprived attorneys to get some well-needed R&R.

Some of these capsule bedrooms are even done up in the manner of Japanese capsule hotels.

In Japan, capsule hotels allow intrepid visitors to nap in what can only be described as a giant, plastic-looking tube. Despite the small living space, the capsule hotel has amenities like television, radio and an alarm clock, but for attorneys working long hours, these amenities aren't even necessary.

In reality, all law firms probably need to do is set up a little tent in the middle of the office where lawyers can go and rest their weary heads.

After a long day of working hard on legal research and document review, associates won't need much in order to fall asleep.

Attorneys who might go for simply downing cups of caffeine through the day should be cautioned - the dangers of sleep deprivation are well-known, according to The Guardian. It's not only bad for your health to get too little sleep, but can add to your stress. And, we all know that more often than not, the best decision-making isn't made on only 3 hours of sleep.

But, for some attorneys, it's not about one's health, it's about one's sense of machismo. Some attorneys approach sleep deprivation with a sense of pride, thinking that it displays a sense of bravado or accomplishment to get less sleep than your colleagues and still be able to function like a (moderately) normal human being.

Well, maybe for the sake of the firm - and your health - taking a nap isn't such a bad idea. And as a lawyer, sleeping at the office can maybe even cut down on your commute time. Just remember to bring a change of clothes and a toothbrush.

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