Tracey shares her insights with US News and World Report in this December 2023 article

Uncertainty is prevalent in the study and practice of law, and strategies from the “uncertainty navigation model” can help.

For lawyers, having to navigate uncertainty regularly starts with the first reading assignment in law school. Uncertainty grows as students wait for their grades to come out after their first set of final exams and every round of finals thereafter, until the monumental bar exam – and it persists into practice. Students often agonize about whether they passed or failed and can create serious doubt whether they are cut out to be lawyers.

Mindfulness can transform communication, particularly in the legal profession — discover the shift we need to make along with 4 questions that can guide us.

My 20-year-old son Jacob and my 17-year-old daughter Samantha love to argue. They debate everything from politics, sports, songs, TikTok stars, and food. What starts out as a healthy debate often ends with raised voices, talking over one another, and occasional name calling. After several unsuccessful attempts to get them to stop, I asked them, “Are you even interested in what the other person is saying?” They both said yes and started to laugh because they recognized they had stopped listening to each other completely.

When our anger causes us harm, how can we can transform it?

During these difficult times over the past year, many lawyers have struggled with painful emotions including depression, anxiety, and anger. Anger is a powerful emotion that can be intensely uncomfortable and evoke shame, self-judgement, or blame at the source of anger. Most of my clients tell me that they don’t want to be angry or be perceived as “out of control”. They tell me stories of intense pain following an episode of yelling at their child, sending a hostile email to colleague, or “losing it” at the grocery store and ask for techniques to stop being so angry.

Can we get rid of anger in the legal profession? And if not, how do we handle it?

Many lawyers grapple with how to work with people who are angry: clients who are volatile, co-workers who are frequently upset, opposing counsel who bully or demean, or partners who quickly fly off the handle over what seems like the smallest issue.

Additionally, some lawyers may reluctantly acknowledge that they, too, struggle with controlling their anger at times, which leaves them feeling embarrassed, out of control, and at risk of doing damage to their careers.