The legal profession and mental health is an impossible combination, at least if you believe the reports about this. The dominant image is that of survival of the fittest, a hard and cold dog-eat-dog world. Although there is room for improvement, this general image does absolutely no justice to the legal profession in the Netherlands.
At the end of last year, I stepped down as a partner from the law firm where I worked and founded CORE People to focus on business coaching and strategic issues around leadership and the potential of people. The reason for my career switch was not that I was no longer enjoying my work as a lawyer, let alone that I was burnt out or exhausted. It was a choice based on conviction, because I know that delivering top performance can be done in a more sustainable and inclusive way. I am committed to make a concrete contribution in this area. The fact that things can be improved does not mean that every lawyer is doomed to succumb to the pressures associated with this profession sooner or later.
Of course I understand why there is a lot of attention for stress and pressure within the legal profession. Also, being a lawyer is not for everyone. It has to suit you. Deadlines, matters involving major interests and having to perform at your best every day are commonplace. In addition, there are the occasional long hours and the pressure that people can experience because of the feeling that the work is never finished and that there is always room for improvement. Although it is good to pay attention to these factors, these ‘occupational hazards’ get much more airtime than the positive sides of the legal profession and that really is not justified. The legal profession is exciting and challenging, in a positive way. Lawyers are driven and creative people with a passion for what they do. In my time as a lawyer, I have learned and seen an incredible amount and have been able to develop myself both intellectually and on a personal level.
Law firms invest heavily in what people need in order to perform well and sustainably. Often, the emphasis is on the health and resilience of the individual. The room for improvement lies in proactively recognizing and managing the daily impact of stress and enhancing communication and team dynamics in that context. The legal profession is not so much harsh as it is lonely in the sense that not enough information is being shared about what lawyers can expect on a personal level as a result of the pressure under which they work and lawyers are not talking about this enough amongst themselves. Therein lies an important part of the solution, as I know from experience, and firms can look at and address this if they choose to do so. The negative effects of stress and pressure that people experience are factors that can be influenced. It’s not a necessary evil. After nearly 23 years as a lawyer, I know what I’m talking about.
The ambition should be to, instead of focusing on stress and pressure as a predominant and negative given, start looking constructively at how people can become better, together, at dealing with these factors that are an inherent part of the job. The creativity and energy that is typical for lawyers form a fertile ground for optimizing circumstances. This can be done by better understanding the influence of stress on behaviour and team dynamics and how this can be managed, and by focusing on (personal) leadership, which increases the sense of autonomy and reduces stress. It ensures a healthy mental balance and contributes to the prevention and reduction of absenteeism. Mental health and the legal profession are compatible. It is a wonderful profession and if we throw our weight behind this together, it will only get better. Let’s get going!