Beyond Burnout: Moral Injury in the Legal Profession

Burnout explains some of what lawyers carry, but not all of it. Moral injury is the lasting harm that follows when lawyers perpetrate, witness, or fail to prevent actions that violate their deeply held values. It arises across roles, including prosecutors, defense counsel, and immigration, family, and government lawyers, and the profession's training in issue-spotting, paired with perfectionism, heightens the risk. Natalie Netzel, Professor of Law at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, draws on her own practice as a family defense attorney to distinguish moral injury from trauma. Trauma centers on fear and threat, while moral injury centers on guilt, shame, and betrayal. A challenging event or series of events can lead to potential traumatic distress, potential moral injury, or both. Understanding the nature of suffering can lead toward more fitting pathways to healing. The program also addresses sustaining legal work through challenges, focusing on trauma stewardship, mutual care among colleagues, courage, and approaching work in ways that align with one’s values. Attendees leave with a framework for recognizing moral injury in themselves and colleagues, plus structured check-in questions for building communities of reflection in their legal communities.