I Hate Self-Care: A Criminal Defense Lawyer's Lament
Don’t get me wrong—I think people should take care of themselves. They should eat well, exercise regularly, and get a good night’s sleep. They should spend time with friends and family. They should have hobbies and interests. With any luck, they should find true love. But in the past decade or two, and especially since the COVID pandemic, there has been a disturbing turn inward. I’m talking about the “self-care” craze, which has become its own pandemic, or at least epidemic.
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In this Essay, I share my concerns about what I regard to be an excessive focus on self-care in younger criminal defense circles and suggest a better way forward. First, I discuss the turn to self-care by the current generation of law students and young defenders and some of the literature urging it. Second, I examine the misuse and overuse of the term “trauma,” and whether it is helpful to clients or lawyers. Third, I acknowledge that not everyone is cut out to be a defender and those seeking “balance” might consider choosing work that is less demanding. Finally, for those inclined to become public defenders, I propose reframing the work as a privilege, not a burden—that is, the urgency of the work and the commitment required to do it well makes for a purpose- driven, meaningful life.