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Stress and the Judiciary

Stress - the bottom line

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What Is LawCare ?

CHARITY

HELPLINE: 0800 018 42990800 018 4299

Monday to Friday

9am – 7.30pm

Saturday and Sunday

10am – 4pm

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What Is LawCare ? VOLUNTEERS

EDUCATION

WEBSITE: www.lawcare.org.uk

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Why Do Lawyers Need LawCare?

75% of LawCare calls relate to stress in the workplace.

80% of lawyers consulting LawCare with an alcohol abuse problem blame their drinking on work related stress.

LawCare Statistics

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Why Do Lawyers Need LawCare?

Calls from the Bar :-

66% relate to stress / depression

33% relate to alcohol abuse

1% relate to drugs.

LawCare Statistics

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Some LawCare Figures

Those qualified longer tend to be more likely to have alcohol problems

Newly qualified lawyers complain of high levels of stress and are more likely to suffer from depression

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10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

0-5 years 6-20 years 21+ years

Alcohol

Stress /Depression

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LawCare Cases

Alcohol

Stress/Depression

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

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Why Us ?

• Perfectionist• Over conscientious• Driven• Competitive• Ambitious

The Legal Personality

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Why Us ?

• Unable to delegate• Highly aspirational • The A type personality

The Legal Personality

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A + B Type Personalities

A B

Guilty about relaxing

Hostile

Hurries

Focuses on outcome

Holds on

Many things at once

Reads the headlines

Enjoys lunch / a break

Likes to Laugh

Takes Time

Focuses on Process

Lets go

Paces Self

Reads the “funnies”

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Sources of Pressure

Work Overload

· Media / public scrutiny

· Unrealistic deadlines + targets

· Isolation

· Long hours / travelling

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Sources of Pressure

• Lack of support

• Poor time management

• Instant communication

• Personal and Family Stress

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Resulting In

Low levels of job satisfaction

Low energy levels

Lack of commitment

Mistakes

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Resulting In

Lack of motivation

Depression

Increasing physical and psychological symptoms

Damaged work and personal relationships

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How Can This Affect The Judiciary ?

“Vicarious Trauma”

= Continued exposure to those actively suffering trauma can result in shifts in the personal perception and experience of life of the observer

Lisa McCann and Dr Laurie Pearlman

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How Can This Affect The Judiciary ?

“ Anybody who engages with trauma survivors or perpetrators …can be open to vicarious trauma, even Judges.”

“Judges hear terrible things.”

Lisa McCann and Dr Laurie Pearlman

“Vicarious trauma is an occupational hazard”

Donald C Murray Q.C ( Canada) + Johnette M Royer.

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How Can This Affect The Judiciary ?

“Since when did lawyers ever learn how to deal with their own feelings.”

Dr Laurie Pearlman, Traumatic Stress Institute, USA.

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Potential Results of Vicarious Trauma• Reduced tolerance to others

• Difficulty in relating to others

• Increased cynicism

• Becoming overly judgemental of others

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Potential Results of Vicarious Trauma

• Emotional numbing

• Sleep problems

• Depression

• Addictive behaviour

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Vicarious Trauma

Paul Bernard & Karen Homolka

- early retirement

- mental breakdowns

- Police Officers

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Admission or denial?

“As lawyers and judges we identify ourselves as problem solvers..But we also live lives dominated by high expectations and multiple demands”.

“We are often convinced that any admission of the stress our lives generate is a sign of weakness that will undermine everything we strive to be”.

“No one is immune and most of us cannot cope alone.” Chief Justice Christine Durham, Utah State Bench.

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Admission or denial?

Repertoire of denial Rationalising Intellectualising Minimising Diverting Comparing Hostility

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COPING TECHNIQUES. Relaxation by exercise

Time Management The Pareto Principle = 80% of your results come from 20% of your work. • How to recognise your 20% : your prime time

• procrastination / time wasting• high / low value tasks

Recognition and Management

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Recognition and Management

Time Management techniques• prioritised lists

• tough tasks first

• delegate : the 3 Ds.

• follow the “one touch” rule : no butterflies

• only have necessary meetings, for as long as needed

• LEARN TO SAY NO.

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Recognition and Management

Self Management techniques• Self Discipline

• Self Awareness

• Right and Left Brain Functioning

- the Corpus Colosum

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Recognition and Management

Mental techniques

• Keep things in perspective

• Think positive

• Take control of your life + plan / organise

• Meditation / visualisation

• Live in the now

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Ten Essential Tips to Manage Stress Follow a healthy diet Try to do some form of exercise for 30

minutes a day Do something enjoyable each day Use relaxation techniques Develop family or community support

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Ten Essential Tips to Manage Stress

Be aware Listen to what others are telling you Notice what your body is telling you Try and laugh at something every day

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Stress Prevention

The 6 R’s of Stress Prevention

- Responsibility- Reflection- Relaxation- Relationships- Refuelling- Recreation

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Conclusion

If you put a frog in cold water and slowly heat it eventually the frog will let itself be boiled to death.