Last month, we learned of the death of Paul Rawlinson, global chairman of Baker McKenzie. At 56, Rawlinson took a medical leave six months ago, citing health concerns related to exhaustion. This news comes on the heels of several high-profile suicides and a growing body of empirical evidence linking the pressures of practicing law with mental health issues and substance addiction.
In this moment, there is no question that stress and burnout threaten the mental health of attorneys. This problem has been documented extensively and prompted the creation of the pledge campaign led by the ABA’s Working Group to Advance Well-Being to raise awareness and take action on this important issue.
The threat of attorney burnout is real. And yet, we often forget about some of the other, subtler effects of chronic stress in the legal profession. Long before stress results in mental health issues or substance abuse, it takes a toll on one of the most essential legal capacities: innovation. Click here to read more....
