Day 5: Feel Well: Emotional Well-Being
Valuing emotions. Developing an ability to identify and manage emotions for health, to achieve goals, and to inform decisions. Seeking help for mental health when needed.
Valuing Emotions
Sometimes, our in-depth knowledge of the law and superior litigation skills are not always enough to be a well-balanced lawyer. Skills like emotional intelligence, doing self-check-ins, and practicing self-compassion aren’t just good for our personal lives — they’re also key to handling the everyday stress that comes with practicing law.
The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Law
At its core, emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage your own emotions, as well as those of others. For lawyers, this skill is essential. Legal work often requires navigating sensitive situations, advocating passionately, and resolving conflicts — all of which are deeply human activities influenced by emotion.
Lawyers with high emotional intelligence communicate more effectively with clients, judges, and colleagues. They can read a room, notice non-verbal cues, and tailor their approach based on the emotional climate. This emotional agility often leads to better client relationships, more productive negotiations, and a stronger professional reputation.
But emotional intelligence isn’t just about interacting with others; it’s also about staying in tune with yourself. That’s where self-check-ins can help.
The Importance of Regular Self-Check-Ins
In the fast-paced world of practicing law, it’s easy to get caught up in a cycle of constant motion without pausing to reflect. Regular self-check-ins — taking a few moments to assess your mental, emotional, and physical state — are essential.
These check-ins don’t have to be lengthy or complicated; even a two-minute pause between meetings to ask yourself, “How am I feeling? What do I need right now?” can make a significant difference. These moments of reflection can help lawyers identify sources of stress or emotional exhaustion before they escalate.
Self-awareness, a key piece of emotional intelligence, is built and strengthened through these practices. Over time, self-check-ins can serve as an important tool for maintaining personal and professional balance, making more thoughtful decisions, and better managing stressors.
Recognizing Personal Stressors
Every lawyer has their own unique stressors — for some, it may be an overwhelming caseload or an upcoming deadline; for others, it may be more personal, such as raising young kids or caring for an elderly parent. Regardless of the source, being able to recognize and acknowledge what specifically causes stress is crucial for proactive stress management.
When lawyers are unaware of their stressors, those pressures can build silently and explosively. But when stressors are named, they can be anticipated and managed with strategies like prioritizing workloads, setting boundaries, seeking support, or adjusting expectations.
Incorporating emotional intelligence into your life means not only recognizing external challenges but also understanding how you respond to those challenges. Common issues found in the legal profession — like perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and vicarious trauma — can all intensify stress. Developing this insight empowers lawyers to take ownership of their emotional health.
The Role of Self-Compassion Breaks
Finally, one of the most powerful yet underutilized tools in the legal profession is self-compassion. Lawyers are trained to advocate fiercely for their clients but often forget to extend the same kindness to themselves!
Self-compassion breaks are intentional pauses to acknowledge your own struggles and treat yourself with understanding rather than harsh criticism. They might involve deep breathing, a few affirming words (“I’m doing my best in a tough situation”), a short walk, or simply granting yourself permission to step away for a few minutes.
Research shows that self-compassion not only reduces stress and anxiety but also boosts resilience, motivation, and overall well-being. For lawyers, incorporating regular self-compassion breaks can mean the difference between sustainable success and eventual burnout.
Conclusion
Prioritizing emotional intelligence, self-check-ins, and self-compassion isn’t just smart — it’s essential. By investing in these tools, lawyers can protect their well-being, strengthen their practice, and lead the way toward a healthier, more human-centered legal profession. And remember, LCL offers someone to talk to.
Chase Anderson, Client Services Director