Solo/Small Practice Connections Group
Since 1938, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has explored what makes human beings flourish in order to answer the age old question: what is the key to happiness? The answer may surprise you. It is not money or fame or career success. It is the creation and maintenance of supportive and meaningful relationships.
I have many childhood friends that I still stay in close contact with. I have many other personal and professional relationships that have developed over the years that I rely on in good times and in bad. I can always count on my friends to be there when I need counsel – and they never fail to make me laugh just when I need it most. I am deeply grateful for my network of supportive colleagues and friends.
As a society, we do not always put relationships first. A staggering 40% of Americans report being lonely. The impacts of loneliness and isolation on our physical and mental health have been well documented. Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of premature death by 26% and 29%, respectively. The lack of meaningful social connections can increase the risk of premature death by the equivalent of smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. There is also a significant increased risk for anxiety, depression, dementia, and suicide.
The Harvard Business Review has reported that the practice of law is the loneliest type of work. That may help to explain why the legal profession suffers from substance use and other mental health conditions at 3-4 times the rate of the general population. As lawyers, loneliness and isolation pose a significant risk to our physical and mental health.
But, as the Harvard study found, the opposite is also true. Having meaningful and supportive social connections can lead to longer, healthier, and happier lives. Creating opportunities for connection is one way that LCL can help.
The newest addition to LCL’s group offerings is the Solo/Small Practice Connections Group. The Group meets once a month and is designed to allow and encourage members to connect with and support each other as they navigate the challenges of solo and small firm practice. It is an opportunity for networking and establishing personal and professional connections. The Group provides a safe space to discuss how to deal with: difficult clients, judges, and opposing counsel; how to prevent burnout; how to combat isolation; navigating the emotional pressures of a solo practice with sometimes unrealistic and/or unreasonable demands; and, finding meaning and fulfillment in the practice of law. If isolation and loneliness are the enemy, meaningful and supportive connections and relationships are an important part of the solution.
If you are interested in learning more about the Solo/Small Practice Connections Group, contact Jon Tynjala or call 651-646-5590.