P2P

44 P E E R T O P E E R : I L T A ' S Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E | F A L L 2 0 2 4 I am watching the lifeguard at the pool. Sitting. Eyes glued on those in and around the water. The red floating device stamped GUARD in her lap. The NO DIVING imprint on the side of the pool gazed back up at her. She watches for signs of distress. Aware that the person needing her help may not realize a problem or be able to vocalize the need for help. Now think about stress and burnout in the workplace: two separate threats, two separate signs of distress. But typically, there is no lifeguard. Stress and burnout can and do affect us all. In and around the legal industry, we have all heard and read the stories. Mostly about lawyers. Stressed and pushed beyond limits. Some have catastrophic outcomes. In the 2024 Law360 Pulse Lawyer Satisfaction Survey ("Are Attorneys Happy On The Job?" Law360 Pulse, June 2024), while lawyers do note they are happy with different aspects of their professional life, 38% of respondents reported they feel stressed most or all of the time. The workload and long hours, the pressure to match performance to client expectations, and the lack of control over their lives are often cited as reasons for stress. For some, this stress can lead to drinking, drug use, and even suicidal thoughts. However, the triggers for that stress and burnout are not just affecting the lawyers at the firm. When lawyers feel pushed to the edge, every department in a law firm ends up feeling stressed. For the firm's IT professionals, add in ongoing daily activities; heavy workloads with time- B Y P A U L A Z I R I N S K Y How Lawyer Stress Affects the Entire Firm Burnout in the Shadows

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