Are We Hiding in Plain Sight?

• Pages: 32-33
• Date: 01 January 2024
• Author: Brian A. Zemil
• Subject Matter: Civil Law

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

By Brian A. Zem il, Litigation News Associate Editor

Are We Hiding in Plain Sight?

“Pressure, pushing down on me, pushing

down on you…” —Queen

id Freddie Mercury know lawyers are constantly

responding to pressing client demands, tight

deadlines, and a heavy drumbeat to develop

more business? The profession expects excep-

tionalism, is intolerant of mistakes, and promotes

risk avoidance. This pressure cooker environment may induce

stress-related problems such as the “impostor syndrome” (also

known as “impostor phenomenon”).

The imposter syndrome exists when a person doubts his

or her own skills, attributing any success to luck, leading to

a relentless fear that the imposter will be “unmasked” as a

fraud. The syndrome is a common condition among over-

achievers and perfectionists suffering from self-doubt and

feelings of intellectual fraud. It disproportionately impacts the

legal profession—adversely affecting a lawyer’s performance

and well-being. There are remedies, however, that can help

attorneys address the negative thoughts and feelings associ-

ated with the imposter phenomenon.

“Are You Prepared for the Pret ender?”

– Jackson Brow ne

In 1978, psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes

coined the phrase “impostor phenomenon,” describing the

condition as a feeling of “phoniness in people who believe

they are not intelligent, capable, or creative despite evidence

of high achievement.” The label describes individuals who “are

highly motivated to achieve, but who also live in fear of being

‘found out’ or exposed as frauds.” While not a clinical psychi-

atric diagnosis, the syndrome is typically accompanied by per-

fectionism, all-or-nothing thinking, and fear of rejection and

failure. These thought patterns can cause insecurity, anxiety,

and stress.

Self-doubt is a universal experience amplied in the legal

profession. The Journal of General Internal Medicine pub-

lished a comprehensive review of 62 studies encompassing

over 14,000 participants, which revealed that the syndrome

is a pervasive experience. That review indicated that imposter

syndrome exists in as much as 82 percent of people, depending

on the social context. Research from the International Journal

of Behavioral Sciences similarly suggests that 70 percent of

people experience imposter syndrome. A national study con-

ducted by Access Commercial Finance found that lawyers in

the United Kingdom are one of the top four types of profes-

sionals who experience impostor syndrome.

Impostor syndrome thrives in the legal profession, promot-

ing “a culture in which vulnerability is often seen as weakness

and attorneys are therefore reluctant to admit that this is a

problem for them,” states Neha Sampat, CEO of BelongLab.

Lawyers also attempt to hide their uncertainty behind façades

of condence and achievement they believe clients and col-

leagues expect. The hidden and excessive self-doubt can para-

lyze lawyers causing them to avoid challenging assignments,

withdraw from speaking during meetings, and procrastinate

over assignments. The impostor syndrome may adversely

affect attorneys’ well-being, possibly preventing them from

fullling their professional potential, which can ultimately lead

to burnout.

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WINTER 2024 • VO L. 49 NO. 2

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