The legal profession is associated with high levels of responsibility, constant emotional stress, and tight deadlines. In such conditions, chronic stress and professional burnout become common phenomena among lawyers. This not only affects their health and personal life, but also reduces the quality of legal assistance.
The scale of this problem and ways to address it were discussed during the webinar “Stress and Burnout in Legal Practice: How to Preserve Resources and Productivity“.
The event’s speaker, organized by representatives of the NextGen Youth Committee of the National Bar Association of Ukraine – UNBA NextGen in the Dnipropetrovsk region, included practical psychologist and lecturer at the Department of Psychology, Sociology, and Pedagogy of Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs Kateryna Mitchenko.
The expert focused on a wide range of negative consequences of chronic stress for individuals. In particular, she mentioned:
- physical manifestations affecting the body – from cardiovascular diseases and sleep problems to general exhaustion;
- emotional consequences, including anxiety, apathy, cynicism, and feelings of helplessness;
- negative aspects of personal life, such as deteriorating relationships with loved ones, loss of interest in hobbies, and decreased overall life satisfaction.
In professional activities, stress manifests in decreased concentration, memory impairment, decision-making difficulties, communication problems with clients and colleagues. There is also an increased risk of professional errors, decreased motivation, and job satisfaction.
Among the recommendations for restoring emotional resources, the webinar speaker emphasized the importance of self-regulation – through breathing, water, awareness of bodily sensations, and imagination. She also advises focusing on health, including maintaining physical activity, quality sleep, and balanced nutrition. Mindfulness practices, effective time management (ability to set priorities, establish realistic goals, and delegate), maintaining a balance between work and leisure, having hobbies, and clear boundaries between professional and personal life are beneficial.
The psychologist also highlighted the importance of social support as a resource for recovery. She urged not to ignore the importance of communication with colleagues, participation in professional communities, as well as informal meetings. Spending time with loved ones, seeking a mentor, participating in support groups for lawyers, and, if necessary, seeking help from a professional all contribute to reducing emotional tension and creating a sense of support.
The path to maintaining productivity lies through conscious burnout management, according to K. Mitchenko. This involves the ability to protect one’s time and energy, set realistic goals, recognize achievements, and support internal motivation. It is also important to develop kindness towards oneself, perceive mistakes as experience, and focus on strengths. Equally significant is the influence of the environment – shared traditions, healthy habits, and support from colleagues help reduce emotional burden.