Regular readers know what I blog about most: Rule 1.1 and the duty to provide clients with competent representation.
I am a firm believer that in order to satisfy that duty, you must act competently to take care of yourself.
Here’s what I mean.
Last month, I posted on Anxiety, Stress, and Work-Life Balance. The post includes a quote from Jeena’s Cho’s ABA Journal article Talking about the elephant in the room – social anxiety. She wrote:
“Finally, remember: ‘Secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others.’ ”
Perfect analogy.
Jeena’s article was in response to the New York Times article The Lawyer, The Addict. I also blogged in response to NYT article: Lawyers Helping Lawyers: Keep it on the Front Burner.
To Jeena’s point about securing your oxygen mask before assisting others, let’s add Tracy Richelle High’s tips in the most recent ABA Journal: 10 ways to make time for the things that matter. The tips are fantastic. You should read them. In my view, Tracy nails it in her first paragraph:
“But the answer is quite simple: You make time for the things that matter. Period.”
As a profession, we talk a lot about access to justice & access to legal services. As I see it, lawyer well-being is an access issue. Access to legal services requires a full complement of healthy and competent lawyers.
Make time for yourself. It’s not unethical.
[…] health issues. We must promote wellness and work-life balance, and we must encourage lawyers to make time for what matters. In other words, let’s focus on ensuring that light shines in our personal & professional […]
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[…] of Jeena’s sayings sticks with me. As I referenced in my post recommending that lawyers Make Time For What Matters, Jeena tells […]
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