We need to talk about isolation and loneliness in the legal profession
Here’s a reality that is affecting so many individuals in the legal profession, but can be incredibly hard to talk about: the isolation and loneliness so many of us are feeling on a regular basis.
It can be really hard to say “I feel alone in this”, even if no one is in earshot. It can make us feel vulnerable and weak, like there’s something wrong with us, and it can be challenging to find a space to share these feelings with others who will “get it.” And yet, there is some formal research showing that loneliness and isolation are significant challenges for so many legal professionals:
The 2022 national study about the determinants of psychological health for legal professionals across Canada found that one-third of legal professionals feel alone in dealing with problems at work due to professional secrecy obligations (see p. 292). This isolation, in turn, is associated with higher levels of psychological distress, and greater symptoms of depression and burnout (p. 296 of the national study).
In 2018, a group of researchers published an article in the Harvard Business Review titled “America’s Loneliest Workers, According to Research). The article highlighted key findings of a study about loneliness across different professions, including that “legal practice was the loneliest kind of work” (https://hbr.org/2018/03/americas-loneliest-workers-according-to-research).
It’s great that this kind of research is happening, and we want to see more of it. For example, are lawyers from underrepresented groups (e.g. those who identify as BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, neurodiverse, religious minorities, etc.) feeling more lonely and isolated relative to others? Apart from professional secrecy, what other factors contribute to loneliness and isolation in the legal profession? And what strategies and solutions can law firms, in-house legal teams and other legal workplaces implement to alleviate these problems?
We’d love to hear if your workplaces are taking steps to build community and connection within the team - or, any other thoughts you might have about this blog! Comment below. We’d love to hear from you!
Monica Chohan & Susan O’Neil
Founders of justpraxis.com