2022—New Year, A time to focus on Lawyer Well-Being
“Your Lawyer in practice spends a considerable part of his life in doing distasteful things for disagreeable people who must be satisfied against an impossible time limit in which there are hourly interruptions from other disagreeable people who want to derail the train; and for his blood, sweat, and tears, he receives in the end a few unkind words to the effect that it might have been done better, and a protest a the size of a fee. --William L. Prosser
See http://fullmetalattorney.blogspot/2005/11/william-l-prossner-quote.html
On behalf of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Happy New Year! The start of a New Year is a great opportunity to start healthy habits. Health is wealth. Health and well-being allows for optimal performance both within our personal and professional lives. To be a good lawyer is to be a healthy lawyer. However, time and time again, our profession has fallen short when it comes to well-being. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration has estimated that 9.4 percent of Americans age 12 and over could generally be classified as substance abusers or substance dependent. According to reports by the American Bar Association, the corresponding estimate for lawyers is between 15 and 18 percent-nearly double the number of the general population.
Then came the winter of 2019, COVID-19, its changes on our profession, the way we practice law, and the delay and postponements surely did not help the already staggering numbers. As lawyers we represent people or businesses that require our time, our confident, and our professional judgment. Exercising judgment and advising clients can be stressful and this stress is further intensified when the outcome of our calculations mean either financial success or failure.
Since confidences are often our guide, lawyers often struggle with the ability to communicate their own stories. This struggle then shows up through mental stress, depression, overcome by panic and anxiety, relief through substance or some us handle it well---until we cannot anymore.
“Alcoholism, drug addiction, and mental health problems are afflictions that affect a great number of professionals including lawyers and judges. Reports now estimate that while ten percent of the general population has problems with alcohol abuse, anywhere from fifteen to eighteen percent of the lawyer population battles the same problem. Because many lawyers and judges are overachievers who carry an enormous workload, the tendency to ‘escape’ from daily problems through the use of drugs and alcohol is prevalent in the legal profession and community as a whole. Also, the daily pressures placed on these men and women can lead to inordinate amounts of stress and mental illness. Reports have shown that majority of disciplinary problems involve chemical dependency or emotional stress” http://www.abanet.org/legalsservices/colap/home.html
There is some good news to share. There are resources for lawyers who may be struggling with work life balance. This article is short but all it takes is a Google search or contacting one the organizations listed below.
The Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program, formerly Lawyers Helping Lawyers, is designed to help with mental health, substance abuse and overall well being. The VJLAP is a confidential service for Virginia lawyers and judges which has a hosts of volunteers that provide confidential assistance to impaired lawyers. They are available 24/7 and can be reached at 1-877-545-4682.
In addition, the American Bar Association has a Commission on Lawyers Assistance Programs and a wealth online resources. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/lawyer_assistance/resources/covid-19--mental-health-resources/
I personally love meditation. It is my favorite way to decompress. I am a lifetime member of the Calm App. The app hosts an array of meditations, daily, guided, and even sleep stories. I tend to meditate at the beginning of the day, it helps regulate the flow of my day and my positive attitude. There are also a great deal of free guided meditations on the web. Brown School of Public Health has online community mindfulness sessions. I find these neat as they are available online or telephone. https://www.brown.edu/public-health/mindfulness/class/three-community-mindfulness-meditation-sessions-available-zoom-and-telephone. I also love to workout and this past year I was able to join a voluntary VTLA women’s Peloton Group—A bunch of bad “arse” hotties in that group #VTLALawLadies
The purpose of this article is to remind you, yes you, that there are resources available for lawyers who are or may be struggling with balance. It is not just for those whose circumstances meet the definition of mental disorder or one who is abusing substances. If you, or someone you know could use the opportunity to discuss your concerns, please call one of the organizations mentioned. Remember, self-care is your right and health is your true wealth.
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