Overwhelming the Rule of Law

This week, a government attorney made headlines when she responded to a federal judge’s question, saying “this job sucks,” and jokingly saying that she would welcome being jailed for contempt of court so she could get a good night’s sleep. Regardless of the employer, this is a dangerous approach for the attorneys involved and for the rule of law in general.

Indeed, in the wake of the White House’s increase in immigration enforcement, numerous legal challenges have been filed. Upholding the rule of law through adequate staffing is as essential as having well-trained law enforcement agents. Having insufficient legal staff to respond to the rising tide of legal issues coming out of these operations jeopardizes the well-being of these attorneys as well as the rule of law they all work to uphold. Unfortunately, too many struggle in silence rather than making headlines like this one.

Of course, immigration lawyers are not the only ones to run into this. Historically, public defenders, for example, also face similar challenges. Private practice attorneys can likewise have a caseload that leaves them feeling chained to their. We know that feeling, and we have worked with attorneys who come to our peer support programs because they feel like they “can’t get their heads above water.”

There has been more attention paid to the mental health challenges experienced by far too many legal professionals. Yet absent from that discussion is a recognition that overworked attorneys don’t just place themselves in a bad spot in terms of their mental health, but also put our legal system at a disadvantage. Supervising attorneys and employers need to be better about recognizing that and ensuring that an attorney’s caseload is manageable and allows for a work-life balance.

And for those who feel burnt out and overworked, know that there is support available.