Strategies and Resources for Addressing the Risks of Remote Work for Mental Health and Professionalism

Rob Harrington participated on a panel at the North Carolina Bar Association's annual Appellate Practice Section Program. This year's theme was "Effective Appellate Litigation: Improving Your Practice in State and Federal Courts of Appeals."

The shift to a remote working environment over the past year has serious implications for lawyers' mental health and standards of professionalism. Remote work can enhance feelings of isolation and accompanying risks of depression and substance abuse. The strains on mental health can also lead to unprofessional behavior as lawyers increasingly relieve stress by lashing out each other in their written communications and work product. Appellate lawyers are by no means immune from these risks — and may even be especially prone to them given the sometimes isolating nature of appellate work. In this session, Harrington and his fellow panelists drew on their experiences to discuss these issues, advise attorneys on how to recognize situations in which they or their colleagues might benefit from intervention, and make lawyers aware of strategies and resources that are available to help them get back on track.