header-logo header-logo

24 June 2016 / Dermot Feenan
Issue: 7704 / Categories: Features , Profession
printer mail-detail

Emotions at work (Pt 2)

nlj_7704_feenan

In the second article in the series, Dermot Feenan explores the approach of the professions to emotion in practice

It is sometimes thought that emotion should have no role in legal practice. Yet, scholars on law and emotion increasingly identify the latter’s place and importance for lawyers.

Emotions are also implicated in health, a matter of growing concern among professional bodies. The concept of emotion regulation has been advanced as a valuable tool for legal professionals. However, there is a complex relation between attending to emotion and professional practice; which calls for clearer understanding of emotions, how they enhance practice, and the relationship with recent health and well-being engagement by the principal professional bodies, the Bar Council and Law Society.

Emotion & law

Emotion is traditionally thought to be inimical to law’s reason, objectivity and neutrality. In this traditional view, emotion should be expunged from professionalism. Yet, psychologists show how emotion can be integrally related to cognition. It can support ethical reasoning, such as caring towards others. Emotions necessarily enter into legal practice. There

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires

NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires

Nikki Bowker, head of litigation and dispute resolution at Devonshires, on career resilience, diversity in law and channelling Elle Woods when the pressure is on

Ellisons—Sarah Osborne

Ellisons—Sarah Osborne

Leasehold enfranchisement specialist joins residential property team

DWF—Chris Air

DWF—Chris Air

Firm strengthens commercial team in Manchester with partner appointment

NEWS
The High Court’s refusal to recognise a prolific sperm donor as a child’s legal parent has highlighted the risks of informal conception arrangements, according to Liam Hurren, associate at Kingsley Napley, in NLJ this week
The Court of Appeal’s decision in Mazur may have settled questions around litigation supervision, but the profession should not simply ‘move on’, argues Jennifer Coupland, CEO of CILEX, in this week's NLJ
A simple phrase like ‘subject to references’ may not protect employers as much as they think. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, analyses recent employment cases showing how conditional job offers can still create binding contracts

An engagement ring may symbolise romance, but the courts remain decidedly practical about who keeps it after a split, writes Mark Pawlowski, barrister and professor emeritus of property law at the University of Greenwich, in this week's NLJ

Medical reporting organisation fees have become ‘the final battleground’ in modern costs litigation, says Kris Kilsby, costs lawyer at Peak Costs and council member of the Association of Costs Lawyers, in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll