Emotionally Hard Work

When people decide to become lawyers they generally realise that it’s not always an easy job. In particular, they realise that it will be intellectually hard work (you have to do some difficult thinking sometimes) and mildly physically demanding (you work long hours and have to carry a lot of papers around).

What is sometimes underestimated is that it is also emotionally hard work. You meet upset people, deal with confrontation, stand between your client and an angry judge, not to mention back your judgment when you’re afraid you may be wrong.

This is one of those posts which identifies a problem without offering to solve it.

But it might be worth saying that emotional stress is a normal part of the job. If you feel scared, alone and inadequate from time to time, remember that everyone has felt the same (including those people who you can’t possibly imagine feeling like that).