From psychotherapy to legal practice. The use of clinical supervision by lawyers in England and Wales : WestminsterResearch

Title	From psychotherapy to legal practice. The use of clinical supervision by lawyers in England and Wales
Type	Journal article
Authors	Mason, M.
Abstract	An emerging practice amongst lawyers in England and Wales is the use of clinical supervision, of the kind used by counsellors and psychotherapists. This is a very different practice to the type of supervision traditionally found within the legal professions. It is reflective and relational in nature. It aims to support safe, competent and ethical practice, and to contribute to sustainability, support and resilience. It also has the potential to support practitioners at risk of vicarious trauma and burnout. This study uses interviews with lawyers who are using clinical supervision to develop an understanding of why it is being sought, how it might be working, and what the potential impacts are. The interviews provide an opportunity to examine the interpersonal dynamics of the work of lawyers. The study explores how supervision allows lawyers to develop their understanding of themselves in relation to others, their boundaries and legal professional skills, and how supervision can contribute to the best interests of the client, and to a lawyer’s career sustainability and wellbeing.
Keywords	Legal Profession
	Lawyers
	Legal Practice
	Clinical Supervision
	Psychotherapy
	Law and Psychology
	Law and Emotion
	vicarious trauma
	burnout
	transference
	emotional labour
	interpersonal skills
	mental health
	wellbeing
	solicitors
	reflective practice
	Thematic Analysis
Journal	Psychiatry, Psychology and Law
ISSN	1321-8719
	1934-1687
Year	2024
Publisher	Taylor & Francis
Accepted author manuscript	License CC BY-NC 4.0
Project	An exploration of the relational dynamics of lawyering

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