A continuing legal education program hosted by the New York State Bar Association drew more than 500 attendees on Mar. 25, focusing on how attorneys can handle challenging clients and colleagues while maintaining their mental health.
The seminar addressed the importance of emotional management in the legal profession, where stressful interactions are common. The session was led by Doug Brown, a law firm leadership coach and chief learning officer at Summit Success.
“Our ability to manage ourselves and the people around us isn’t just a mental health issue, although it certainly is,” Brown said. “It’s the thing that determines whether we have the career, the practice, and the life that we really want.”
Brown explained that stress responses are rooted in brain chemistry rather than character flaws. “Our brain can’t tell the difference between the tiger in the bushes and the surprise email from opposing counsel at 5 o’clock on a Friday,” he said.
To help attorneys navigate difficult situations, Brown introduced attendees to his EASE Model: Empathize, Actively Listen, Simplify and Share, Evaluate and Empower. He emphasized empathy as acknowledging another person’s emotions without necessarily agreeing with them or becoming their therapist. Active listening was highlighted as an essential skill requiring full attention and reflection before responding.
Brown also discussed simplifying complex legal matters for clients who may feel fear or uncertainty about their situation. “They don’t want you to complicate it… They want it to be simplified, and they want to understand what they can do,” he said.
The final step involves evaluating what worked during an interaction and empowering clients or colleagues with clear next steps. Brown noted that mastering these skills takes time: “Where you get stuck in these steps reveals which pattern is blocking you specifically.” He added that issues like burnout stem from natural brain chemistry rather than personal shortcomings.
The seminar was sponsored by the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Attorney Well-Being.
