Vicarious Trauma and Burnout in Law

For Dr Colin James, the legal profession’s relative reluctance to appreciate the impact of trauma in workplaces and educational settings is, in part, due to a “masculinist” history that has fed longstanding stigmas and repression of feelings that may arise as a result of being exposed to trauma in the course of one’s work or study. Robyn Tongol • 04 April 2025 - Click here to listen - https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/podcast/41847-trauma-theory-and-overcoming-masculinist-tendencies-in-law And here on devices - https://smarturl.it/j16wfb In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with retired lawyer, researcher, legal academic and author Dr Colin James about his long and storied legal career and research, his decades-long interest and work in trauma, domestic violence, and masculinity (spurred by a lack of justice and fairness i...

How can legal workplaces move from being trauma-inducing to trauma-informed? In our final episode, we focus on positive change. Drawing from the book "Vicarious Trauma and Burnout in Law" by Dr Colin James, our avatars explore the lessons learned from the pandemic, the role of leadership in creating safe and inclusive work environments, and strategies for preventing compassion fatigue and burnout through supervision and policy. We also discuss the challenge of toxic workplace behavior and introduce models for building trauma-informed legal practices that prioritize well-being, diversity, and resilience.  About: Dr. Colin James is a lawyer, independent researcher, and former Senior Lecturer in law at the University of Newcastle and the ANU College of Law in Australia. He is widely recognized for his research and publications on vicarious trauma and burnout in the legal profession, and is a leading advocate for trauma-informed legal practices. His PhD, titled Marriage, Masculi...

Why are lawyers particularly vulnerable to trauma? In Episode 2, our avatars dive into the stressors that plague the legal profession—from impossible workloads to workplace bullying, from substance misuse to stigma. Drawing from Chapter 2 in the book "Vicarious Trauma and Burnout in Law" by Dr Colin James, we examine the personal and professional consequences, including burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary trauma stress, and vicarious trauma. The episode also sheds light on the often-overlooked trauma experienced by judges and jurors. If you work in or with the legal profession, this episode is essential viewing.  About : Dr. Colin James is a lawyer, independent researcher, and former law educator at the University of Newcastle and the Australian National University. He is widely recognized for his research and publications on vicarious trauma and burnout in the legal profession, and is a leading advocate for trauma-informed legal practices. His PhD, titled Marriage, ...

1: What Is Trauma? A Foundation for Understanding Description: In this opening episode, our avatars explore the foundations of trauma as outlined in Colin James' book. We trace the history of trauma and PTSD, clarify the different types of trauma—including secondary, complex, moral, and intergenerational trauma—and unpack how trauma impacts the brain, body, emotions, and behavior. We also discuss common symptoms, vulnerabilities, and related conditions like burnout and vicarious trauma. This episode lays the groundwork for understanding trauma in any profession, including law. About: Dr. Colin James is a lawyer, independent researcher, and former Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle and the ANU College of Law in Australia. He is widely recognized for his research and publications on vicarious trauma and burnout in the legal profession, and is a leading advocate for trauma-informed legal practices. His PhD, titled Marriage, Masculinity, and Law in Australia (1900–1999), wa...

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqRITH7DWXA How does repeated exposure to trauma impact lawyers, law students, and educators? What steps can legal professionals take to safeguard their mental health while upholding their ethical responsibilities? In the second part of this powerful and timely discussion, Colin James, PhD, a lawyer, researcher and former senior lecturer in law sits down with Laurie MacKinnon, PhD, an expert therapist specializing in trauma, to explore the profound emotional toll of legal practice. Together, they examine key insights from Dr. James's latest book, "Vicarious Trauma and Burnout in Law: Managing Psychological Stress to Promote Safety, Performance, and Wellbeing in Legal Practice" ( https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/m... . They discuss why legal professionals are highly susceptible to vicarious trauma, the ethical dilemmas lawyers face, and strategies to build resilience in a high-pressure profession.   🔹 Keys points in this Interv...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG9xyZtzFWw&authuser=1&pageId=102258738887414099485 In this interview, Colin James PhD, a lawyer, independent researcher, and former senior lecturer in law at ANU College of Law, sits down with Laurie MacKinnon, PhD, a therapist specializing in psychological trauma, to delve into Dr. James's latest book, "Vicarious Trauma and Burnout in Law: Managing Psychological Stress to Promote Safety, Performance, and Wellbeing in Legal Practice",( https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/m... )  The discuss the profound impact of vicarious trauma and burnout on legal professionals. ​ Dr. James shares his personal journey from his early experiences in the military to his work with vulnerable youth, which led him to study law and eventually focus on the psychological strains of legal practice. He discusses how the legal system exposes practitioners to intense emotional challenges— from criminal prosecution and defense work to family law— and how...

  This book integrates research on the causes, responses and protective strategies for vicarious trauma that are recognised in a range of human services and argues their relevance to the legal profession. Examining related conditions that are common among lawyers-including burnout, compassion fatigue and secondary trauma stress–the text reveals how lawyers’ vulnerability to trauma is aggravated by stigma against mental health concerns in workplaces with poor leadership, weak supervision, and an adversarial “law-as-business” approach.    I propose adaptions to legal education and practice management to help lawyers cope with stress and trauma, using their work experiences to improve their self-awareness, maintain their wellbeing, and ultimately to thrive in their work. Rich in evidence-based practices, strategies and tools, this book serves to help individuals, workplaces and law schools become trauma-informed. A valuable guide for lawyers, law firm managers ...