Lawyers and Vicarious Trauma

We recently wrote about the declaration of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week. Lawyers as a group are notorious for ignoring mental wellness and self care. I came across this opinion piece titled “A more inclusive discussion on the impact of trauma on lawyers’ mental health is needed“, published in Canadian Lawyer Magazine, and thought it was a good way to continue the conversation. It was written by Crystal Tomasiuk, Crown counsel with B.C. Prosecution Services, and discusses the vicarious trauma lawyers deal with in their practice. Having sat in on a couple of criminal trials, I have wondered how lawyers deal with the sometimes horrific facts and scenes they are exposed to.

Vicarious trauma can affect those of any background. As important as it is to recognize our collective vulnerability in this way,  more is needed for a truly inclusive and trauma-informed approach. In particular, we need to face the prevalence of trauma in our society and explicitly address the fact that many of us come to the practice of law having already experienced significant trauma that may shape how our mental health is impacted by the pressures of the profession.

If you feel you’re suffering from vicarious trauma, or just the stress of the profession, the Law Society of Manitoba’s Health and Wellness program offers a free and confidential service for you and your family.

Legislative Updates

Fourth Session, Forty-First Legislature

New Bills

Government Bills:

Private Member’s Bills:

Concurrence and 3rd Reading

Passed

Contents Update – Canadian Labour & Employment Law Journal

2019 – Volume 21, Number 2

Table of Contents

Precarious Work, Uncertain Rights and the Role of Workplace Law: Papers from the 2017 Labour Law Lecture & Conference, Western University, November 3-4, 2017

Inequality and the Fissured Workplace – David Weil

The Political Economy of Precariousness in an Era of Artificial Intelligence: Precarious Work, or None At All? – Wayne Lewchuk

A Tattered Quilt: Exemptions and Special Rules under Ontario’s Employment Standards Act – Leah F. Vosko, John Grundy, Rebecca Casey, Andrea M. Noack & Mark P. Thomas

Sexual Harassment and the Precarious Worker – Sandra F. Sperino

The nature of the Fundamental Freedoms and the Sui Generis Right to Collective Bargaining: The Case of Vulnerable and Precarious Workers – Benjamin J. Oliphant

A Bridge Too Far? Using Internal Workplace Committees to Ensure Employment Standards Compliance and Plug the Representation Gap in the Wagner Act Model – Rafael Gomez & Sean O’Connor

Globalization in Transition: The Canadian Perspective – Brian Burkett

Sectoral Regulation in Subcontracting Relationships: The Impact of Collective Agreement Decrees on Employment Conditions – Martine D’Amours & Frederic Hanin

Canada’s Statutory Strike Models and the New Constitutional Landscape – Alison Braley-Rattai

Book Review

Unions in Court: Organized Labour and the Charter Rights and Freedoms – Reviewed by Roy J. Adams

If you would like a copy of any of these articles please email library@lawsociety.mb.ca (only available for members of the Law Society of Manitoba).

Legislative Updates

Fourth Session, Forty-First Legislature

New Bills

Private Member’s Bills:

2nd Reading

Committee/Reported

Defeated

Check the Bill Status daily to follow the legislative process.

Please note: The Emond Criminal Law Series on vLex is currently unavailable.  We apologize for the inconvenience.