Osaka – The Osaka Bar Association has for years been working to support member lawyers experiencing physical and mental health problems, many of them stemming from heavy workloads and pressures unique to the legal profession.
The association introduced a consultation service for its members even before the Japan Federation of Bar Associations launched similar efforts. It has also strengthened measures to mitigate burdens on lawyers who report health concerns, by establishing its own support systems. These include assistance from appointed lawyers to help improve work practices and arrangements to secure substitutes who can take over ongoing cases when necessary.
“There are causes of mental health crises that are specific to lawyers,” said Yusuke Shimazu, a lawyer who served as vice president of the Osaka Bar Association in fiscal 2022 and is familiar with the issue.
AloJapan.com