Lawyer Well-Being: What You Can Do to Support Yourself & Colleagues, Presented by Jonathan White and Sarah Myers
As part of the LawBank lunchtime programs, Jonathan P. White and Sarah Myers presented a webinar on the importance of attorney wellness. Jonathan works at the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel as Professional Development Counsel and Inventory Counsel. He has experience in civil defense litigation and attorney ethics and disciplinary matters. Sarah is the Executive Director of the Colorado Lawyer Assistance Program (COLAP). She has over 20 years of experience specializing in stress management, professional burnout and behavioral health issues for legal professionals.
This program, which took place on October 21, 2020, addressed how the pandemic is affecting lawyers, current causes of stress, how stress affects physical health, and how to de-stress and practice self-care. Sarah began the presentation by addressing how the pandemic has affected lawyers. She mentioned some effects such as sleep disturbances, exhaustion, and overworking. Sarah emphasized that the boundary between work and home has been blurred for many people, resulting in a suffering work-life balance. The pandemic has also caused many people to question whether they are in the appropriate career. There is a particularly significant effect on litigators. Sarah then discussed the effects of stress on physical health, including the creation of inflammatory disease. However, self-care can help improve the effects of this stress by assisting with memory, perception, and resiliency. Sarah concluded her portion of the presentation by providing advice on how to de-stress during these unprecedented times. She recommended focusing on simple ways to repair the body through activities that include orienting yourself through movement and exercise, or deep breathing techniques.
Jonathan continued the presentation by further discussing what causes stress in lawyers and what prevents them from getting help to overcome stress. He divulged that wellness is tied to issues related to law practice and complaints that come into the OARC. Jonathan shared the statistics that 61 percent of lawyers experienced anxiety and 46 percent felt depression at some point in their career. The causes of stress in lawyers include the high demands of the profession that come from clients and the high stakes nature of the legal industry. Jonathan addressed the barriers that prevent lawyers from getting help with stress, which include the stigma that comes from asking for assistance with mental health issues. He concluded with the rules that are attached to ethics and professionalism that might be affected by mental health or well-being issues.
If you’re interested in viewing future programs hosted by LawBank, visit the events page.
ABOUT LAWBANK
LawBank is Denver’s premier shared office space for lawyers. They offer a unique, collaborative community that supports practitioners of every level of practice. LawBank serves independent lawyers and small law firms with custom office space at three central locations. They provide on-demand services for lawyers to help them better serve clients, while also offering premium amenities at an affordable rate. If you are looking for a total office solution for your independent law firm, contact LawBank today to schedule a tour.
