Understanding vicarious trauma in the legal workplace

Vicarious trauma occurs when people are indirectly exposed to trauma through their work with those who have experienced traumatic events.

In the legal sector this can happen to anyone who works with clients who have experienced trauma such as domestic or other violence, child abuse, sexual assault, torture, fleeing their homeland as a refugee, personal injury, clinical negligence or a family break up.

LawCare hears from people across the legal sector who are experiencing vicarious trauma, some without realising it. They share stories like these:

Struggling to switch off after viewing disturbing material.
Encounters with suicide in their work.
Seeking counselling after distressing news about a client.
Work triggering past personal trauma.
Feeling suicidal due to work-related trauma.

This article will help you understand and recognise vicarious trauma in yourself, your colleagues, and the people you manage. It also explores the crucial role legal workplaces play in reducing this risk.

Recognising the signs

Continuous exposure to other peoples’ trauma can cause emotional exhaustion and decreased empathy in legal professionals. They might start to feel numb or disconnected from their work and clients, much like the trauma survivors themselves. Additional psychological symptoms may include anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts about clients’ cases, impacting both personal and professional life. Vicarious trauma can also strain relationships and contribute to feelings of isolation outside work as well.

Spotting the signs of vicarious trauma is crucial, common symptoms include:

Feelings of sadness, anxiety, or hopelessness, along with increased irritability or anger.
Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and pervasive thoughts about clients’ trauma.
Physical symptoms, such as fatigue and headaches.
Behavioural symptoms: withdrawing from social interactions, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, and increased use of alcohol or drugs.

Vicarious trauma can also cause burnout, reduce job performance, and force people to pass cases to colleagues or leave their role entirely.

Reducing the risk of vicarious trauma

If you’re in a role that involves helping others through trauma, taking care of yourself is essential to provide the best support. There are ways to minimise the risk of vicarious trauma, even when working closely with clients facing challenging situations.

Discover what works best for you. Everyone is different and has varying levels of resilience and coping strategies that may change over time. Here are a few suggestions.

Set boundaries: Don’t bring traumatic work home. If you must, set limits. Don’t review upsetting material in the evenings; store it away and unwind with activities like going for a walk.
Be realistic about your role with clients. Don’t take responsibility for their whole life; guide them to the right resources and support.
Make sure you know how to recognise the signs of vicarious trauma and reach out for support when necessary. This can range from talking to a colleague to seeking support from a mental health professional.

Supporting your colleagues

If you’re concerned that a colleague may be struggling with vicarious trauma don’t be afraid to talk to them. They might not recognise what is happening or may feel they should handle their work and emotions alone. Let them know you’ve noticed changes in their behaviour and that you’re there to support them. Then listen and give them space to talk about what they’re experiencing. Consider directing them to additional support, such as LawCare, their GP, or counselling services provided your employer.

The role of legal workplaces

Legal workplaces are crucial in reducing the risk of vicarious trauma for employees. Robust strategies are needed to create a supportive and resilient work environment. Here are some suggested steps to achieve this:

Provide training to help employees recognise signs of vicarious trauma and understand its impact.
Train managers to recognise the signs of vicarious trauma in their teams and how to provide and signpost to appropriate support.
Provide confidential counselling services when necessary.
Encourage a healthy work-life balance that ensure reasonable work hours, breaks, and opportunities for employees to take a break from work.
Foster open communication, where employees feel safe sharing their experiences and emotions without stigma. Team meetings and peer support groups provide platforms for processing difficult cases, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and stress.

Seeking support from LawCare

LawCare offers free and confidential emotional support for people in the legal sector. You can contact LawCare if you’re experiencing vicarious trauma or if you just need someone to talk to about personal or work-related matters. You can also get in touch with LawCare if you are worried about someone you work with.

Call LawCare on 0800 279 6888, email support@lawcare.org.uk or visit www.lawcare.org.uk to get in touch using the live online chat. There are also resources about vicarious trauma on the LawCare website.

Let’s talk about vicarious trauma webinar

On Thursday 5 September, from 12.30 to 1.30pm, join LawCare for a webinar about the impact of vicarious trauma on people working in the legal sector. The webinar offers an opportunity for you to enhance your understanding of vicarious trauma and its impact on mental health.

Vicarious trauma online training

LawCare also offers a one-hour online training session on vicarious trauma and the next session is on Wednesday 2 October, 12 to 1pm.

This specialist training is delivered by counsellor and former solicitor Mary Jackson, who has extensive experience in facilitating vicarious trauma training. It is aimed at people in the legal sector who work with vulnerable clients or are exposed to traumatic images or experiences, such as in immigration, criminal, personal injury/clinical negligence, or family work. This training aims to introduce and develop an understanding of the concept of vicarious trauma and its potential emotional impact. Suggestions for recognising and managing vicarious trauma will also be provided.

Book your place on the training – https://lawcare.beaconforms.com/form/47bdfec2