New ABA book addresses fear, self-doubt in the legal profession and strategies to work through issues

A new ABA book, “Untangling Fear in Lawyering: A Four-Step Journey Toward Powerful Advocacy” acknowledges feelings of self-doubt in a field often known for confidence and presents grounded, authentic solutions to manage them.

Author Heidi K. Brown moves past outdated mantras by encouraging lawyers and law students to confront and understand their fear, so they can harness its useful properties and break down its manifestations as anxiety and depression.

For law students, junior lawyers and even established attorneys, a perceived fear of failure and other threats can override assurance in their earned abilities and expertise. “Untangling
Fear in Lawyering” helps legal professionals ensure that anxieties do not block learning or performance by discussing:

• The reality, causes and consequences of fear and the ability to handle mistakes;

• Cognitive and emotional roots of fear that fester when unacknowledged;

• Guidance, education and training from various professional fields that can transfer to the legal arena;

• The four-step program that will reframe attitudes and approaches to controlling fear.

This guidebook aims to make the practice of law accessible, meaningful and fulfilling by easing stress for those striving intellectually but struggling emotionally in the profession.
It includes helpful checklists, appendices and recommendations for educators, managers, discussion groups and workshops.

Brown is a law professor at Brooklyn Law School and a former litigator in the construction industry.

Having struggled with anxiety and fear through law school and nearly 20 years of law practice, she now champions the power of law students and lawyers to be impactful advocates.
Brown is also the author of “The Introverted Lawyer: A Seven-Step Journey Toward Authentically Empowered Advocacy” and “The Mindful Legal Writer.”