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22 Pass It On: Newsl. Gov't & Pub. Sector Law. Div. 1 (2012-2013)

handle is hein.journals/passit22 and id is 1 raw text is: Mitigating Compassion Fatigue Among Government Lawyers By Linda Albert, LCSW, CSAC What is Compassion Fatigue? Compassion fatigue is defined as the cumulative physical, emotional and psychologi- cal effects of being continually exposed to traumatic events when working in a helping capacity. It has been studied extensively in social workers, nurses, doctors and thera- pists who work with victims of trauma. Recently researchers have begun to examine the impact on lawyers and judges. Compassion fatigue involves a cluster of symptoms such as, but not limited to, sleep disturbance, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, a sense of futility or pessimism about people, lethargy, isolation and irritability. Why Are Some Government/Public Sector Lawyers at Risk? Studies have found that lawyers who work in the field of criminal or family law are considered at higher risk of developing compas- sion fatigue compared to those who work in other areas of the law. These legal professionals listen day after day to stories of human induced violence. Government and public sector lawyers such as public defenders, prosecutors, legal aid lawyers or other litigators are subject to additional stessors that contribute to compassion fatigue. Often these lawyers have high caseloads, minimal support from supervisors, lack of peer support, excessive paperwork, inadequate resources to meet demands and lim- ited job recognition. Researchers also reported the impact of compas- sion fatigue upon the work environ-.. ment as increased absenteeism, impaired judgment, low motivation, lower productivity and high staff turnover. Practitioners in these types of positions are seldom afforded the time to replenish and restore them- selves. Instead they are likely to continue moving forward without the ability to take pause and reflect upon how the work is impacting them physically, emotionally or mentally. One lawyer stated, I am expected to operate like a machine, often getting notices to be at four places at the same time and go from trial to trial with no regard for what I can reasonably do or what the impact might be on myself as a professional or a person. Another lawyer expressed, I am supposed to take it all in and not be affected by it; it's like mental battering. Lawyers are expected to maintain a professional demeanor and therefore refrain from showing emotion. They are supposed to remain detached from the situations and people they encounter every day. It is assumed that they will not be personally impacted by the jobs they perform. However, these lawyers may have physiological reactions such as increased heart rate, breathing rate and muscle tension. They can have emotional Number 1, Fall 2012, © 2012 by the American Bar Association, Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. This information or any portion thereof any form or by any means or stored in an electronic database or retrieval system without the express written consent of the American Bar Association.

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