CBA Record January-February 2024

CBA RECORD

EDITOR’S BRIEFCASE BY JUSTICE MICHAEL B. HYMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF D ealing with stress is a normal part of life for everyone. For lawyers, however, stress is not just an occasional challenge but is embedded in the Sisyphean nature of legal work. Data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics between 2010 and 2021 on stress levels by occupation revealed that the most stressful occupation in America belongs to (drum roll, please) lawyers. (For those who prefer a job with the least stress, consider lumberjacking or farming, although the report indicated they carry high risk of pain.) Why is our profession so stressful? A recent study of French lawyers (like us, except they speak French) may provide an explanation. The researchers concluded that lawyers are overly involved in their careers. Think, for example, of long hours, constant dead lines, heavy workloads, lack of personal time, the tyranny of timesheets, fear of failure, competition, the decline in collegiality and mentoring, and all too often, difficult inter personal situations. The French study recommended ways to curb what it called “over-engagement” by lawyers, including (i) having access to psychologists and programs focusing on self-assur ance, time management, and stress management; (ii) functioning in teams; (iii) cultivat ing professional development opportunities; and (iv) managing caseloads. While there are no easy solutions, we already know that the stress on lawyers has yet to be alleviated by the rapid advancements in technology, the rise of remote work, or the greater emphasis on recreation, diet, and fitness. Still, plenty of advice exists on the inter net on how lawyers can create a more balanced professional life and healthier lifestyle. So, I offer three ideas I follow that you can use immediately. You cannot fix what you are unwilling to acknowledge. Ask yourself, “What causes me stress?” Once you identify your triggers, you can develop strategies to ease, manage, or eliminate them. Each trigger will need a remedy of its own, such as exercise or a brisk walk to release tension brought on by an impending court appearance or engaging in a hobby or passion after an exhausting day. Two good books on de-stressing (by the way, reading reduces stress) are HBR Guide to Managing Stress at Work (Harvard Business Review Press, 2014) and The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris (Shambhala, 2022). The demands of your legal practice should mean something other than sacrifice of work-life balance. Law acts like a sponge, soaking up as much of your time as you let it. You must draw the line between professional and personal life; employers rarely do. Work patterns are possible to alter with a conscious commitment to change. Popular practical guides on breaking bad habits are Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit (Random House, 2014) and James Clear’s best-seller, Atomic Habits (Avery, 2018). Things you cannot control tend to induce the most stress. Since you should do one thing at a time (multitasking adds to stress), you can take some control by identifying the most important projects and getting them done. If the work is time-consuming, break it into smaller, more reasonable tasks, then fit in the lowest priority items as your schedule per mits. Also, say “no” more often without justifying your rationale. (I am still working on this one.) Only you control your time; avoid allowing others to waste it. One final observation: Disengaging from over-engagement must harmonize with your values, principles, and goals. The Over-Engaged Profession

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Justice Michael B. Hyman Illinois Appellate Court

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Anne Ellis 2E Services, LLC.

SUMMARY JUDGMENTS EDITOR Daniel A. Cotter Howard and Howard Attorneys PLLC YLS JOURNAL EDITORS Jacob B. Berger Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC Nikki Marcotte Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC Carolyn Amadon Samuel, Son & Co. Daniel J. Berkowitz Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston & Zimet LLP Amy Cook Amy Cook Law LLC Nina Fain Janet Sugerman Schirn Family Trust Anthony F. Fata Kirby McInerney LLP Clifford Gately Quarles & Brady Meredith A. Geller Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Judge Jasmine Villaflor Hernandez Circuit Court of Cook County Kaitlin King Hart David Carson LLP Theodore Kontopoulos Internal Revenue Service John Levin Kathryn C. Liss DePaul University College of Law Bonnie McGrath Law Office of Bonnie McGrath Clare McMahon Reed, Centracchio & Associates, LLC Pamela Sakowicz Menaker Clifford Law Offices Kathleen Dillon Narko Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Alexander Passo Latimer LeVay Fyock LLC Adam J. Sheppard Sheppard Law Firm, PC Richard Lee Stavins Robbins DiMonte, Ltd. Rosemary Simota Thompson

Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr. Circuit Court of Cook County

THE CHICAGO BAR ASSOCIATION Sharon Nolan Director of Marketing

4 JanuaryFebruary 2024