By: DOLAN MEDIA NEWSWIRES//May 22, 2012//
Operating without a sounding board leaves some professionals floundering
By Nancy Crotti
Dolan Media Newswires
There’s a notion in the law community that once someone’s been through law school, they should know what they’re doing and not need to ask for help.
But that flawed thinking can result in isolation-related issues such as depression and professional boundary issues, said Judie Rush, a former solo practitioner who is the director of the mentor externship program at University of St. Thomas School of Law.
Though it’s more common with solo practitioners, that attitude may also affect lawyers in large practices, she said, where they fear it might look bad to ask questions.
“With billable hours,” Rush said, “there’s not much time for human interaction in the day.”
Eric Cooperstein, a Minneapolis solo practitioner who specializes in legal ethics, said most lawyers would be happier if they were more connected with other lawyers, personally and professionally. When they have problems, they’d know who to call.
“A lot of lawyers are members of their state and county bar, but they don’t necessarily participate,” he said. “I encourage people to go out to events because that’s one way to start building a network.”
If an introverted lawyer finds large events intimidating, Cooperstein recommends volunteering for a smaller committee.
The professional networking may yield new business, but more importantly, it builds community, he said.
“It’s great to be a part of a religious community, a neighborhood,” Cooperstein said. “But a lack of a community of lawyers who understand the problems that lawyers face can be a detriment, as well.”
Isolated lawyers can begin to second-guess themselves, losing confidence in their decisions, said Joan Bibelhausen, director of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, a nonprofit organization that offers free support to lawyers who are struggling with stress and substance abuse.
Less experienced lawyers may not know how to handle client emotions, she said, or may not have the ability to set boundaries and turn down a client if it’s not a good case.
Isolated lawyers may also lose perspective and connect too closely with a client and his or her issue. This can lead to problems with professional responsibility, Rush said.
“A lawyer who doesn’t have client control ends up turning into a kind of a mouthpiece for the client as opposed to exercising independent judgment,” she said. “They’re unable to step back.”
Judges may question such a lawyer’s respect for the bench, Rush added.
Isolated lawyers also may suffer from secondary trauma, she said, having trouble dealing with their emotions during a difficult case or one in which clients are experiencing traumatic situations. Being able to talk with someone about the effects of such a case can help avoid it building into something debilitating.
“Having another human being who is willing to listen and able to understand your plight is a way to avoid other health consequences,” Rush said. “For people to be cognizant of what can happen because of isolation and the simple ways one can avoid it can make all the difference in terms of confidence, being connected to the community and being successful in your practice.”
Professional isolation may have health consequences as well as professional ones.
“A lot of lawyers don’t recognize depression in themselves,” Cooperstein said. “When a person is disconnected, there may not be enough people in their lives to notice changes in their behavior. There’s no one to intervene.”
Without others around to recognize the signs of a lawyer having problems, related issues can result, Bibelhausen said.
“People may use more substances in a way that’s not healthy as a way to not feel the stress that they’re experiencing,” she said. “Because you don’t have that reality check, you don’t realize the journey that you’ve taken.”