Intro

Lawyer supervision came into effect in 2020, and while many law firms are yet to offer it to their staff, Berwins is proud to be an early adopter. As an Investor in People, nurturing staff wellbeing is crucial to us, and this in turn helps us provide the best possible care for clients.

What is lawyer supervision?

Working in the legal sector, particularly in contentious areas and those with an emotional dynamic, can sometimes feel as though it is all client facing and as such you can be regularly exposed to heightened human emotion. Prolonged and unmanaged exposure to this level of emotional trauma and distress can lead to chronic stress, burnout, and addictions.

Supervision offers a confidential, safe, and non-judgmental space with ethical and professional boundaries to support you and enhance your development and growth.

Your supervisor will be at different times a listening ear, a sounding board, a mentor and an educator.

Your work life is multi-faceted; as well as working with clients, legal practitioners work with colleagues, other professionals, authorities and public agencies – these all also add to the emotional experiences of your life in the law. Supervision pays attention to all these relationships.

Supportive supervision is about you, it can encompass discussions about any work-related issues, and colleagues – though you are at the centre. It gives a time for you when, sometimes, it feels like there is no time for you.

There isn’t a work you and a home you – each life spills into both – supervision allows time and space to explore any aspect of life that may be affecting you in the workplace, or equally any aspect of work life that spills into your home life.

Supervision helps you understand yourself – including your own expectations and enables you to identify your reasonable limitations and work towards a more realistic work/life balance.

The supervision relationship can be both supportive and challenging – it helps you effectively care for yourself enabling you to better care for your clients and colleagues.

Supervision is proactive caring rather than reactive caring – it is easier to manage your emotional self if you give yourself a set space and time to do so.

Supervision is a forum for you and your supervisor to explore where an aspect of your work life may have held significance or caused a higher-than-normal emotional response.

This all takes place in the shadow of the legal world – which is a hugely competitive and demanding environment.

What lawyer supervision is not

Supervision is not counselling or psychotherapy, although there will be times when you feel deeply seen and understood, so it can feel like it.

Supervision is not peer support on practice issues. It is often described as reflective practice – a valuable (and otherwise rare) opportunity to reflect on the impact of your work on you and what changes can be made to create a more positive experience.

Supervision does not give you answers – though there can be many questions. There is no fixed outcome or agenda – it is an organic rather than a scripted process with a fellow professional who is trained to listen.

It isn’t about asking if something was correct or the right thing to do – but rather growing the self-awareness to see the impact on you of decisions you make and actions you take.

It has nothing to do with judging your ability as a practitioner or the quality of the work that you do – it supports you while you go about doing your job, exploring why you make certain decisions and the impact they have on you.

The practicalities of supervision

The success of your supervision depends on the strength of the supervisory relationship. It is important to meet or speak with your supervisor regularly as agreed for an hour’s discussion. This can take place virtually or in person either at your place of work or your supervisor’s. Importantly, the subject matter of supervision is confidential and kept completely separate from your workplace.

There are commonly monthly sessions, though if you and your supervisor agree, it can be more frequent if required depending on your needs – this may happen if you are going through a difficult period, case, whilst qualifying or when facing a change or transition.

Supervision is open to everybody who undertakes any role in the legal sector. Your supervisor may come from any number of backgrounds including law, mediation, counselling, therapy, and others.

As a legal practitioner, you devote enormous time and energy to meeting your clients’ needs. But remember that appropriate self-care is a prerequisite to achieving the best outcomes for your clients.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed in this article does not address individual requirements and is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute any form of legal advice and should not be relied on or treated as a substitute for specific advice relevant to your particular circumstances.