A few weeks ago, a lawyer friend of mine said, “ENOUGH.” He couldn’t take it anymore and made the painful decision to step away for an indefinite period. It’s true that he had an alternative stable job, but I know his dream was to be a lawyer, his fight to practice, and to have a human perspective on this beautiful profession. After years of formal studies, specialization, and sacrificing time with his family and himself, he said he had reached his limit. And 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 to frustration, or having mental strength. It’s a matter of constantly receiving events, most of them indifferent to oneself, that gradually erode anyone’s morale: the lack of respect in many courts is well known, a judicial system far removed from true digitalization (it’s common to still see lawyers taking photos of case files with their phones at a desk or in hallways, or the time it usually takes to submit documents, or negotiating with a prosecutor or judge), etc. But in addition, we are faced with a society that is increasingly individualistic and where short-termism reigns supreme in business, something that, in my opinion, contradicts professional excellence and quality work.
It is such an important problem that there are already psychological support initiatives for lawyers and their families, such as the one launched by the Madrid Bar Association or those being implemented in other professional associations. But these measures arrive in a reactive way.
Collaborating as a way to grow and resist
The solution lies, on one hand, in improving management, efficiency, and treatment of the courts, and on the other hand, in promoting active collaboration among colleagues. The impact of stress is not the same in firms with a medium or large structure than in a firm of one or two professionals, where one person handles everything: commercial work, marketing, preparing trials, attending police stations, visiting distant prisons, or handling taxes. And to grow, structure or improved profitability is needed, something not easy due to the low-cost competition that exists in this profession (and which I understand is necessary). I believe cultivating and fostering collaborationism is a good solution to grow sustainably, compete with structure, and have time for oneself. Only then could we prevent these sad episodes of colleagues deciding, “I can’t take it anymore.”
Without mental health, lawyering is impossible
Y recordemos que sin salud no hay nada. Defender los intereses de nuestros clientes requiere de estar lo mejor posible en todos los aspectos. Y aquí aprovecho para mandar un fuerte abrazo a todos los compañeros/as del turno de oficio que están luchando por la dignificación de su labor, algo que no debería ni discutirse.
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 CONECTADOS MAGAZINE OF THE CEF-UDIMA GROUP
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Ignacio Estradé
Founder of Estradé Law Firm
Lawyer and Mediator
