A few weeks ago, a lawyer friend of mine said “ENOUGH.” He couldn’t go on and made the painful decision to step away indefinitely. It is true that he had an alternative steady job, but I know of his dream of being a lawyer, his fight to practice, and his desire to maintain a human vision of this beautiful profession. After years of formal studies, specializing, and sacrificing time with his family and himself, he said he had reached his limit. I think we all know cases of severe emotional impact and stress.
A demanding profession in an individualistic society
It’s not about having soft skills, working on tolerance for frustration, or having mental fortitude. It’s a matter of constantly receiving events, mostly beyond one’s control, which gradually erode anyone’s moral compass: the lack of respect in many courts is well known, a judiciary far from real digitalization (it is common to see lawyers taking photos of files with their phones or entering court registries where paper dominates), or the time it takes to provide documents or negotiate with a prosecutor, a judge not leaving the bench, etc. Moreover, we face a society that is increasingly individualistic, where short-term thinking rules business, which, in my opinion, contradicts professional diligence and well-done work.
This is such an important issue that there are already initiatives providing psychological support for lawyers and their families, such as those implemented by the Illustrious Bar Association of Madrid and other professional associations. But this support arrives reactively.
Collaboration as a path to growth and resilience
La solución pasa, de un lado, por mejorar la gestión, eficiencia y el trato de los Juzgados y, por otro lado, por promover la colaboración activa entre compañeras/os. El impacto del estrés no es el mismo en despachos con una estructura mediana o grande que un despacho de 1 o 2 profesionales, en donde uno se hace cargo de todo: parte comercial, marketing, preparar juicios, asistir a comisarías, visitar los lejanos Centros Penitenciarios o hacer los impuestos. Y para crecer se necesita estructura o mejorar la rentabilidad, algo nada sencillo por la competencia low cost que existe en esta profesión (y que comprendo dada la necesidad). Creo que cultivar y fomentar el colaboracionismo es una buena solución para crecer de forma sostenible, competir con estructura y tener tiempo para uno mismo. Solo así, se podrían evitar estos episodios tan tristes viendo a compañeros/as tomando la decisión de decir “no puedo más”.
Without mental health, there can be no legal profession
And let’s remember that without health, there is nothing. Defending our clients’ interests requires being at our best in every way. And here I want to send a big hug to all colleagues in the legal aid duty who are fighting for the dignity of their work, something that shouldn’t even be up for debate.
Finally, for those law students (undergraduate or master’s) or those just starting out, seek out fellow lawyers who can help and support you, collaborate, cultivate proactivity, and above all, be aware that maintaining your mental health will help you become outstanding legal professionals.
ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE CONNECTADOS MAGAZINE OF THE CEF-UDIMA GROUP
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