CDI Corner
CDI Corner
“ Are Diversity and Lawyer Well-being Intertwined ?”
Lawonda R . Warren
I recently read the article , “ Lawyer Well- Being : An Uncharted Path to Increasing Diversity and Inclusion ,” by Jayne Reardon and Bree Buchanan in the American Bar Association ( ABA ) Litigation Section ’ s Diversity and Inclusion Newsletter . The article discusses how the promotion of the lawyer well-being promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace . In 2017 , the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being published , “ The Path to Lawyer Well-Being : Practical Recommendations for Positive Change .” It shed light on the need to focus on the well-being of lawyers . One of the recommendations to improve lawyer wellbeing is to increase diversity and inclusion . In support of this recommendation , the report noted that :
Research reflects that organizational diversity and inclusion initiatives are associated with employee well-being , including , for example , general mental and physical health , perceived stress level , job satisfaction , organizational commitment , trust , work engagement , perceptions of organizational fairness , and intentions to remain on the job . A significant contributor to well-being is a sense of organizational belongingness , which has been defined as feeling personally accepted , respected , included , and supported by others . A weak sense of belonging is strongly associated with depressive symptoms . Unfortunately , however , a lack of diversity and inclusion is an entrenched problem in the legal profession . The issue is pronounced for women and minorities in larger law firms .
The article led me to further evaluate what role the push for lawyer well-being in our legal profession plays to support diversity and inclusion of women and minorities in the legal profession . Are diversity and lawyer well-being intertwined ?
The push for lawyer well-being stems from studies indicating that lawyers suffer from chronic stress , high rates of depression , suicide , and substance abuse issues . In 2016 , the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs and Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation published a study of nearly
13,000 practicing lawyers , where it found that , “ between 21 and 36 percent qualify as problem drinkers , and that approximately 28 percent , 19 percent , and 23 percent are struggling with some level of depression , anxiety , and stress , respectively .” In 2017 , the Florida Bar Board of Governors created a Special Committee on Mental Health and Wellness of Florida Lawyers . The committee was formed to implement The Florida Bar ’ s Strategic Planning Priority # 5 , which focuses on the mental health and wellness of Florida lawyers , and is tasked to come up with an action plan by May 2018 .
One of the focuses of the committee is to de-stigmatize mental illness and substance abuse in the legal community . For minority lawyers , this stigma is magnified and exasperated . Some minority lawyers feel that there is a lack of belongingness at some firms and agencies . In preparation of this article , I interviewed two African- American attorneys , who wished to remain anonymous . The first attorney stated that she tends to overcompensate due to pressure and lack of diversity at her office . She sometimes feels that she is the only “ one ,” and must be everywhere , over prepare , and over compensate to prove that she belongs . This sentiment is understandable as statistics show that as of 2017 , 5 % of the lawyers in the United States are African- American . This leads to burn out , increased stress and anxiety . The second attorney stated that he suffers from alcoholism and doesn ’ t want to seek help because of the stigma associated with alcoholism . He also feels that his supervising attorney will be less sensitive to his issue due to his race .
After the interviews , I immediately thought of the statement , “ A significant contributor to well-being is a sense of organizational belongingness , …,” located above . If lawyers feel that they do not belong , they especially will not feel comfortable seeking help for mental or substance abuse issues . More diversity in our field and the feeling of inclusion will encourage more minority lawyers to seek help .
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Overall , the focus on lawyer well-being is extremely important to our society because it is difficult for lawyers to be zealous advocates or provide competent representation if we are mentally or emotionally unhealthy . The promotion of the well-being of lawyers in our profession is more than a hot topic , it is a path to a more diverse , inclusive , and sustainable workplace . If you find yourself in need of help coping with mental health or substance abuse issues , contact the Florida Bar ’ s Help Line at 1-800-282-8981 .
1
National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being , The Path to Lawyer Well-Being : Practical Recommendations for Positive Change . ( 2017 ).
2
Id . P . R . Krill , R . Johnson , & L . Albert , The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys , 10 J . ADDICTION MED . 46 ( 2016 ).
3
American Bar Association National Lawyer Population Survey , 10-Year Trend in Lawyer Demographics . ( 2017 ).
Lawonda R . Warren is a member of Palm Beach County Bar Association ’ s Committee for Diversity and Inclusion , serves on the Bar ’ s Judicial Campaign Practices Commission , and served as a Co-Chair for the 2018 Bench Bar Conference . She is also the Immediate President of the F . Malcolm Cunningham , Sr . Bar Association . Ms . Warren is an Assistant City Attorney / Police Legal Advisor for the City of Delray Beach , FL . She can be reached at WarrenL @ mydelraybeach . com .