Should the Bar Association Address Stress and Anxiety Among Lawyers?
Recognizing the impact of stress, anxiety, and professional concerns on lawyers' work, this content delves into the genesis of acknowledging these issues by Bar Associations, the types of threats faced by lawyers, and the potential consequences on their health and professional performance. The discourse raises the question of whether the Bar Association should intervene and outlines possible strategies and tools available for mitigating these challenges.
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SHOULD THE BAR ASSOCIATION BE DEALING WITH STRESS, ANXIETY AND PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS AFFECTING THE LAWYERS WORK? PALERMO 18/11/2022
1. The genesis of recognizing by Gdask Bar Associations of Attorneys-at-Law the dangers caused by stress, anxiety and professional concerns affecting the lawyers work. 2. Types of threats and their causes. 3. Should the Bar Association deal with stress, anxiety and professional concerns affecting the lawyers work? 4. If yes, how the Bar Association should counteract these threats? 5. If yes, what tools do the Bar Association has at its disposal? 2 2
Ad 1 The genesis of recognizing by Gda sk Bar Associations of Attorneys-at-Law the dangers caused by stress, anxiety and professional concerns affecting the lawyers work. . 4
Disciplinary proceedings more and more complains about the behavior of lawyers towards clients, courts. These complains increasingly involve cases where lawyers abuse alcohol or drugs or are depressed. 5
Ad 2 Types of threats and their causes 6
Types of threat: to much work tight deadlines long working hours lack of free time, sleep complex matters communication with clients in emotional situations competition constantly changing law stay on top of an ever-changing industry maintenance of the business 7
results: an impact on deterioration of health and the performance of professional duties like: stress reach for stimulants suffer from depression mild to severe anxiety suicidal thoughts 8
Ad 3 Should the Bar Association deal with stress, anxiety and professional concerns affecting the lawyers work? 9
Yes, because: A healthy lawyer is more effective lawyer need to be well to be a competent promoting well-being is good for lawyers and their families, and good for the profession 10
Lawyers work in an adversarial system with demanding schedules and heavy workloads, which may contribute to increased stress levels The demanding hours and stressful work environments at many law firms often have detrimental effects on legal professionals, who struggle to balance severe stress and self- care For these reasons, lawyer mental health and wellness, also referred to as legal wellness or lawyer well-being, needs to be an essential consideration for bar associations 11
Ad 4 If yes, how the Bar Association should counteract these threats? 12
Recomendations: identify the role of the Bar in reducing the level of toxicity in the legal profession encourage open and honest conversations about wellness within the legal industry, emphasize that well- being is an indispensable part of a lawyer s duty of competence educate lawyers on lawyer well-being issues, promote change how law is practiced and how lawyers are regulated to instill greater well-being in the profession. 13
Ad 5 If yes, what tools do the Bar Association has at its disposal? 14
The possible actions: offering of terapies and therapist especially for lawyers, organisation of trainings in stress managment, set and express workload limits and boundaries, work efficiency, supporting phisical acitvity through various sport and integrity activities, organisation of hobby activities such as book, cniema, bridge clubs, joint outings to cultural ebvents, tourist trips etc. 15
Thank you for your attention Magdalena Witkowska Attorney-at-law Dean of the Gdansk Bar Association magdalena.witkowska@oirp.gda.pl www.oirp.gda.pl 16
