Lawyers and Wellbeing
It’s lamentable that the legal profession is now widely considered to be one of the professions most prone to mental illness (including depression and anxiety), substance abuse and suicide. This unfortunate trend is certain to intensify given the continuing impact that the COVID-19 epidemic has had on employees, both legal and non-legal alike.
Research conducted in recent years has produced alarming statistics that illustrate the scope of the problem. There has also been increasing analysis of the crisis from within the profession, as we try to get a grip on why our profession is in the state it is. Some of the explanations I have repeatedly encountered include: the inherently stressful nature of lawyering, long work hours and an outcome (ie. billable hours) focussed culture. These commentaries are welcome and essential for increasing institutional awareness, attention and action on wellbeing issues. However, I believe it is inherently risky to look at the wellbeing crisis solely through this type of macro lens.
As lawyers we are trained to consider facts, weigh-up evidence and apply principles in order to reach reasoned conclusions. It is natural that we would engage this methodology while attempting to make sense of the lawyer wellbeing crisis. However, if we look for solutions through our customary, theoretically objective lens of inquiry we will only find generalised solutions. What I am getting at in all of this, is that the conversations that really need to occur are at the ground level, with individual lawyers. Rich, vulnerable and raw exploration at the level of me the lawyer, rather than at the level of us lawyers.
An individual’s sense of wellbeing, purpose, fulfillment and resilience are all inextricably linked to, and emergent from a complex web of personal experiences, interactions and relationships. In order to engage a lawyer’s sense of wellbeing one needs to fully engage with all aspects of the human involved. It requires firstly, that one can recognise and accept their current state. Such acceptance can only occur when a person develops greater awareness of their sensations, behaviours, emotions and vulnerabilities, and is supported to make meaning for themselves in a way which integrates that which they develop awareness of. Only from this place of self-recognition, acceptance, self-awareness and resourcing can resilience emerge.
As a coach, I work closely with lawyers to develop awareness and resource themselves through collaborative conversation, visioning, embodiment experiments, goal setting, accountability and integration. This type of immersive coaching journey enables my clients to re-engage their sense of purpose and excitement, and develop the skills and resilience required to move towards their personal and professional goals in an empowered and healthy way.