mental-health

Lawyer Well-Being: What Are You Waiting For?

I typically write about legal ethics and professionalism. But I’ve also spent hundreds of hours studying wellness—earning certifications in yoga and professional coaching—and working to understand how lawyers, including myself, can navigate the intense pressure of this profession. Because how we care for ourselves shapes how we show up in our work, I am stepping outside of my usual role and sharing simple steps that anyone can use, anytime, to support their well-being. Welcome to my 1st annual Wellness Blog.

Jeanne Huey, JD, 500-Hour Certified Yoga Instructor, Master Certified Professional Coach

Our well-being directly affects our ability to meet our professional obligations—starting with the most fundamental duties outlined in the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. A lawyer experiencing burnout, chronic stress, or unaddressed mental-health challenges may struggle to provide competent representation under Rule 1.1, maintain appropriate communication with clients under Rule 1.4, or exercise independent judgment under Rule 2.1. Even duties of diligence (Rule 1.3) and scope of representation (Rule 1.2) can be compromised when we’re operating in a state of depletion. In other words, wellness has everything to do with ethics and professionalism.

Wellness Can’t Wait
As professionals, we spend our days inside systems we didn’t design. We respond to what’s pressing. We meet other people’s deadlines. In the process, we often neglect the quiet and frequently hidden urgency of our own well-being.

For lawyers, the cost of neglecting our wellness is clear: Burnout, anxiety, depression, and substance misuse are still on the rise. Law students face similar pressures, often with little or no support. While the ABA, state bars, and law schools have launched various wellness initiatives that are important and positive, the fact is that change in our profession tends to move slowly.

The good news is that we don’t have to wait. We can take charge of our well-being and do it now.

Consider this: No one teaches a tree to lean toward the light. It does so because growth depends on it. In the same way, tending to our well-being isn’t indulgence—it’s survival intelligence. It gives you an advantage. And, in the big picture, it’s the hallmark of professionalism in the legal profession.

Wellness Is Personal, But It Doesn’t Have to Be Solitary
Don’t wait for your firm, the bar, or the senior partner to set an example. Set your own example of wellness—and as you do, look out for others. Share the resources you find helpful, like I am doing with this blog. Normalize healthy boundaries. Ask how people are really doing. It may not be easy to do at first, but it is necessary if we are to look after each other as we should.

In a profession built on mentorship, taking care of yourself also sets a precedent for a sustainable practice—and shows others that balance is possible. It doesn’t take much to start:

• Trade one nonessential call for a silent walk.
• Turn a routine task into a mindfulness anchor: writing an email, preparing an outline, or greeting a colleague.
• Practice saying no without excuse.
• Stop apologizing for not meeting expectations that you set for yourself.

These aren’t empty gestures. They’re small decisions that move the needle in your favor—protecting your time, energy, and attention so that you are at your best when you need to be.

Learn to Reset
You don’t need more time, space, special equipment, or another box on your checklist to reset and clear your mind. Just a shift in focus for a few moments throughout the day is all that is required.

Moving and breathing, sometimes called “walking meditation”, is the most accessible form of this reset for busy professionals, especially during a demanding workday.
Don’t get hung up on the term “meditation”. This is simply taking time to focus on your breath, which helps shift the nervous system out of fight-or-flight. You can feel the difference after just a few minutes. The goal is to activate the parasympathetic system—your body’s natural reset mechanism.

There is nothing new or groundbreaking about this practice; the Center for Brain Health at UT Dallas recommends short “brain breaks” throughout the day to improve focus and decision-making. Getting started is simple:

• Put down your phone.
• Walk at a steady pace or stand or sit with your back turned to your workspace.
• Inhale for four steps/counts, exhale for 6.
• Focus on the sensation of your feet on the ground.
• When your mind drifts, return your focus to your breath or steps.

It takes just five minutes. No special gear. No perfect conditions. No voice in your ear giving instructions. Just a hallway, stairwell, sidewalk, or quiet corner is enough.
When you are done, return to your task with a clearer mind. Repeated over time, this practice will become a natural—and essential—part of how you work.

Tending to Yourself Is Wise, Not Selfish
Our profession demands much from our intellect, our judgment, our energy, and our presence. To uphold our duties to clients, the courts, and the public, we must bring focus, steadiness, and competency to our work.

Taking a few minutes for ourselves isn’t a diversion from our duties—it’s what makes it possible to fulfill them.

If you or a lawyer you know needs help or just someone to talk to, help is available from your state bar Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP). Click here for a list of the contact information for each state’s LAP.

All but the authors paragraph in italics at the top is © 2025 by the American Bar Association. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. This information or any portion thereof may not be copied or disseminated in any form or by any means or stored in an electronic database or retrieval system without the express written consent of the American Bar Association.

Four Strategies for Young Lawyers to Combat Bullying

Jeanne M. Huey
January 29, 2024

Many young lawyers encounter bullying from opposing counsel, senior colleagues, or even the court. Bullying can take various forms, including condescension; public humiliation; verbal attacks; or, in litigation, a refusal to cooperate to reach even the most basic agreements between counsel. While being a litigator demands resilience, tolerating such behavior is neither necessary nor productive.

Master Emotional Detachment and Communication
Bullying thrives on eliciting emotional responses. Young lawyers should master emotional detachment when confronted with aggressive or condescending behavior. This does not mean suppressing emotions indefinitely but rather choosing not to let the bully control the atmosphere at that moment. Staying calm, composed, and focused on the substantive issues of the case demonstrates professionalism and denies the bully the satisfaction of a reaction.
When inappropriate behavior cannot go unaddressed, be direct but professional. For example, if opposing counsel makes a derogatory remark, a response like “I’d appreciate it if we kept the discussion focused on the legal issues” sets boundaries without escalating conflict or personalizing the inappropriate conduct. You may need to do this more than once, and if it doesn’t work, you should not be afraid to say something like “I don’t think we’re getting anywhere today”—and end the conversation either by leaving or hanging up.

Develop Strong Legal Skills
Redirecting the conversation to substantive issues demonstrates your focus, command of the matter, and competence—all of which act as effective shields against bullying. Thorough preparation can prevent bullies from exploiting perceived weaknesses. When a bully’s criticisms are unfounded, your confidence in your work will also help you remain calm and not feel the need to interrupt or respond in kind.

Be meticulous in your research, writing, and courtroom preparation to build a reputation for excellence that commands respect. As you work to make your reputation at the courthouse, the judges who know you as a competent and confident professional will not be swayed by the opposing counsel who tries to interrupt or bully you. Over time, your reputation for competence and professionalism will precede you, and others will be less likely to engage in unprofessional behavior when they face you in a case.

Leverage Procedural Rules Strategically
Judges are generally intolerant of conduct that repeatedly disrupts the administration of justice, and procedural remedies can be powerful equalizers in the face of unprofessional conduct by opposing counsel. Understanding these rules and using them judiciously demonstrates your command of the law and reinforces your professional credibility. Federal, state, local, and even court rules, scheduling orders, or agreements between counsel may provide procedures to hold a bully accountable for unprofessional behavior.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37 addresses failures to disclose or cooperate in discovery and can result in sanctions against the offender. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 provides for sanctions against an attorney or party who signs a pleading that is not well-grounded in fact or warranted by existing law or that is filed for an improper purpose, such as to harass, delay, or cause needless litigation costs. Any attorney or individual permitted to practice in federal or territorial courts who “multiplies the proceedings in any case unreasonably and vexatiously” may also be held personally responsible under 28 U.S.C.A. § 1927 for covering the additional costs, expenses, and attorney fees caused by such actions. And do not forget the court’s inherent authority to sanction attorneys and parties for misconduct that abuses the judicial process.

Judicial intervention is never your first resort, and you should not request sanctions until the bully has proven to the court—usually by engaging in repeated bad conduct—that the sanctions are necessary and just. Judges recognize that unnecessary requests for judicial intervention are themselves a form of bullying, and you never want to be seen as a bully.

Seek Mentorship and Prioritize Self-Care
The emotional toll of bullying can be significant; when faced with bullying directed at you, it is crucial to take steps to preserve your resilience and happiness. Cultivating relationships with mentors and peers can provide guidance and a buffer against professional challenges, including bullying. Trusted mentors can offer advice, share strategies for handling difficult situations, and sometimes intervene on your behalf. Networking with peers through bar associations, young lawyer groups, or specialized practice organizations creates a support system where experiences and insights are shared. You can seek support and help others who may need it through these connections and networks.

Conclusion
These are just a few suggestions for dealing with bullies in the legal profession. While standing up to bullying can be daunting, recognizing and addressing bullying professionally can protect your reputation and mental health while contributing to a more respectful legal community for everyone.

© 2024 by the American Bar Association. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. This information or any portion thereof may not be copied or disseminated in any form or by any means or stored in an electronic database or retrieval system without the express written consent of the American Bar Association.