Wellness
Self-assessment: do I need help?
Lawyers are used to helping others with their problems. This can lead to viewing others – not ourselves – as the people with the problems. But lawyers are actually more likely than the population average to experience addiction or suffer from mental illness. Many worry that there is a potent stigma attached to being a… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September Blue Sky, Articles, Wellness, WellnessHow unhealthy lawyers affect client service
Almost all lawyers experience stress, but unless it becomes toxic, there is little risk to the client. Occasionally things get truly out of control. That’s when important deadlines are missed, communication with the client diminishes (or ends), and files languish. In extreme cases, the lawyer ‘pretends’ to practice by misrepresenting to the client that work… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September Blue Sky, Articles, Communications Errors, Conflicts of Interest, Firm Management, Inadequate Investigation, Time Management, Wellness, WellnessReading the signs: Stepping in when a colleague needs help
As adults in the workplace, we usually strive to respect our coworkers’ privacy and autonomy. But it’s important to understand the difference between being nosy and being responsive. The taboos that accompany mental illness, substance abuse and interpersonal problems can make it difficult for workers to seek help when they need it. By reacting sensitively… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September Blue Sky, Articles, Wellness, WellnessBeing happier where you are, or getting to a better place
Lawyering is stressful. Lawyers expect to handle the pressures of solving individuals’ high-stakes, emotionally charged problems. What lawyers don’t necessarily anticipate is that they may suffer stress from being stuck in a work situation that is not their first choice. Competition for jobs may mean that a lawyer needs to accept work outside his or… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September Blue Sky, Articles, Legal Careers, Wellness, WellnessFind your blue sky
Some lawyers seem to thrive, having found their ideal practice, while others still search for their blue sky. Discovering your values is a journey. As children we are brought up with the values our parents instilled in us. In early adulthood we may have experiences that challenge those family values. Attending university and unfettered from… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September Blue Sky, Articles, Legal Careers, Wellness, WellnessProtecting the team – A firm’s most valuable asset
There are certainties in life. Death. Taxes. A person who is well, physically and mentally, is more productive than if he or she is not well. That last truth should be self-evident; if it isn’t, it might be proved by the wealth of material published on wellness. A Google search produces 393,000,000 hits. That said,… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September Blue Sky, Articles, Firm Management, Wellness, WellnessBook reviews: Two books for better health
The practicePRO Lending Library has two great books on wellness issues that you can borrow. If you are looking for help in finding more balance in your life, The Lawyer’s Guide to Balancing Life and Work, by George W. Kaufman, is just for you. Kaufman, who was a successful and seasoned partner for 40 years… Read More »
Categories: 2015 September Blue Sky, Articles, Legal Careers, Wellness, WellnessFeeling the pressure?
Each of us faces challenges in life. Sometimes we welcome those challenges, like marriage, the birth of a child, a promotion or a new job. And sometimes we don’t, like divorce, job loss, a serious illness or the death of a loved one. It is no secret that a legal career brings with it many… Read More »
Categories: 2015 Student Issue 3, Articles, Law students/new lawyers, Student, Wellness, WellnessFeeling the pressure?
Each of us faces challenges in life. Sometimes we welcome those challenges, like marriage, the birth of a child, a promotion or a new job. And sometimes we don’t, like divorce, job loss, a serious illness or the death of a loved one. It is no secret that a legal career brings with it many… Read More »
Categories: 2014 June - Year in Review 2013, Articles, Wellness, WellnessMental illness and lawyers: Moving from stigma to solutions
Legal professionals struggling with mental illness often do so in silence – especially in the workplace. They fear the loss of their jobs, their professional reputations or even their licences. As a result, they don’t seek the help they need – often, with catastrophic results. In 2011, mental illness cost Canadian business six billion dollars… Read More »
Categories: 2013 September practicePRO 15th, Articles, Wellness, Wellness