Q: I've been a contracted Commission for Public Counsel Services
(CPCS) lawyer for many years, and in many ways I think I have a
great handle on the job. But it seems that I've also lost patience
when others - often an overly entitled client, but sometimes an
assistant district attorney or even a judge - have an axe to grind
that gets in the way of a reasonable resolution to the case. I'm
confident of the correctness of my instincts from a legal
standpoint, but I now find myself coming to the attention of those
in authority positions, as well as the Board of Bar Overseers, so I
guess I need help with "anger management."
A: Remember that scene from And Justice for All, where Al
Pacino's character completely loses his temper in court? His points
are valid, and his outrage well-founded, but there is no benefit in
his mode of expression (other than to entertain us in the movie
audience and vent our shared anger at, as you say, the obstacles to
reasonable justice). Thankfully, you show self-awareness of what's
happening with your frustration and how it is working against
you.
There are various approaches to "anger management," some of them
more appropriate for those with a much lower level of awareness and
who justify even abusive behavior. Approaches for people who do
have insight often involve developing a behavioral analysis of
triggers to anger and finding alternate ways to think and behave in
reaction to them. Indeed, strong, reflexive reactivity without
awareness or conscious decision-making is often a recipe for
regrettable behavior.
A related, but different, approach involves applying so-called
"mindfulness" to the situation arousing the reaction (in your case,
the behavior of clients/lawyers/judges that you find self-serving
and irritating). Mindfulness is in some ways the current
incarnation of the "meditation" and "relaxation response" and "be
here now" approaches (those terminologies more prominent in
previous decades). More broadly, there is an emphasis on, in a
sense, zooming out to a broader perspective from which one
observes and accepts, rather than judging or
reacting.
Imagine that you are driving on an interstate when suddenly you're
hit by a blinding snowstorm. It might be natural to react with
fear, anger at nature, at the foolish drivers barreling past you on
the slippery road, etc., but what would be the most helpful stance?
Probably to become more grounded, highly alert, observing
conditions and positions of other vehicles, accepting the immediate
reality since it is the one before you, and using your awareness
and experience to make fluid choices about navigation - responding
more than reacting. There might also be the sense of slowing down
the action and viewing the entire situation from a greater
distance. It may well be that this road should be better lit, that
the weather forecast should have been more accurate, etc., but
focusing on those factors over which you have no control is worse
than useless, because it uses mental resources that could be
focused on using the available information to find the best
solution.
The analogy to your situation is obvious enough that we need not
spell it out. Taking a more mindful approach does not mean that you
deny your anger - you can observe it within yourself, including its
physical manifestations. But taking a few self-observing breaths
coupled with increased perspective, you may be able to let it go,
identify more productive ways and times to express it and prevent
stirring up additional conflict or calling negative attention to
yourself.
At Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL), we can do a careful review
with you of the situations that have elicited these difficulties,
and get you started on a path toward better management of your
anger when it emerges. As we often mention, our services are
confidential and free to any Massachusetts lawyer (or law student
or judge), and if you need more sustained clinical input, we refer
to quality outside providers.
Questions quoted are either actual letters/emails or
paraphrased and disguised concerns expressed by individuals seeking
assistance from Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers. Questions for LCL
may be mailed to LCL, 31 Milk St., Suite 810, Boston, MA 02109 or called in to (617) 482-9600. LCL's
licensed clinicians will respond in confidence. Visit LCL online at
www.lclma.org.