Secondary Trauma in Attorneys: What Legal Professionals Should Know

Secondary trauma in attorneys occurs when repeated exposure to clients’ trauma produces PTSD-like symptoms—anxiety, intrusive thoughts, numbing, sleep problems, and burnout—that impair judgment, client care, and ethics. Firms should normalize the issue, train supervisors to spot signs, and provide structural supports: regular debriefs, caseload limits, peer support, and mental-health access. Attorneys need proactive self-care (work boundaries, restorative activities, physical health), therapy or clinical supervision when needed, and quick coping tools—grounding, mindful transitions, reflective notes—to reduce cumulative stress. Instituting trauma-informed policies in onboarding, reviews, and risk management helps protect practitioners and clients.