Page 7 - NC Triangle Vol 6 No 5

they most covet and yet often avoid, are connections and relevance and relation- ships.
Baby boom and Gen X lawyers also have a duty to help grow and develop the next generation of attorneys. We must be willing to share our knowledge. We need to remember what it was like to be a new lawyer and provide this new generation with leadership and support.
Part of the anxiety and stress and de- pression younger attorneys experience today is predicated on the feeling that they are alone in the world. They live this insular life, where they have no one to talk to and no one to ask questions of or seek guidance. The irony is, technolo- gy has made us less, not more connected.
There’s this constant push to allow CLEs on cell phones or desk tops. That is one of the singular worst ideas I’ve ever heard. Just because younger lawyers want to attend CLEs while sitting at their desks, where they already are, hour af- ter hour, day after day, doesn’t mean we should let them.
And just because more seasoned law- yers want to be left alone, avoiding hu- man contact at CLEs, doesn’t mean we should be allowed to do that either.
Powers: We need to be progressive and deal with these issues on the front end, before they have a chance to fester. We need to put in place a mechanism to call “time out” and stop the clock if a lawyer is starting to falter or on the verge of a meltdown. Experienced, practicing lawyers have all seen excellent, hard- working, and compassionate lawyers fall apart. Right now, we too often allow a lawyer to crash-and-burn, and hopefully reimburse the clients for their screw-ups.
It’s my understanding that some lawyers may realize they have substance abuse and/or mental health issues and know they need help. It’s also my understanding it’s common for struggling lawyers to say,
We need to keep an open mind if we want to address the very real issues of men- tal health and substance abuse in the pro- fession.
An extraordinarily important aspect of continuing education must be commu- nity and developing interpersonal rela- tionships. That requires face time. Legal education must include personal inter- action, getting to know peers, bouncing ideas off of them, and sharing thoughts. I would encourage lawyers young and old to mingle, to talk, and to build profes- sional friendships.
“I just don’t have time to deal with it now. I’m on a calendar, I have a statute about to run, I’ll get help later.” We need a law or laws that would allow for a pause where, with proper judicial oversight, matters may be continued and statutes tolled.
I’m not talking about an indefinite period. It wouldn’t have to be extreme. Timely justice would not need to be set aside. I’m merely suggesting we take steps proactively before clients are hurt and we’re looking at restitution.
my overly competitive nature and obses- sive thoughts, which I believe are common struggles for courtroom lawyers. Anyone who knows me understands I’d rather be close to the water, shing, and have sand between my toes. I’m most at peace with the sound of waves crashing in my ears.
My mental health is tied with physical health, watching what I eat and working out. My mental health is also improved through my faith, my volunteer work and my friendships through NCAJ.
AALM: How should the legal indus- try step in to help a lawyer at an early stage, when they refuse to accept or deal with a problem?
"We need a mechanism to call time out and stop the clock if a lawyer is starting to falter."
AALM: Have you ever had to deal with a drinking, substance abuse or mental health issue?
Powers: I do not drink. It was a per- sonal choice and a gift I gave myself.
I don’t want to appear to be judgmental or make it seem like I think abstinence is the only answer and people should follow my lead. Everyone has their own path.
For me, and just for me, I just didn’t want to drink anymore. So I quit. It’s very easy to use alcohol as a crutch or a tool to turn o the brain. I found other ways to settle