Never-ending email threads, end-of-year functions, looming deadlines—these final weeks of the year can test even the most resilient lawyers. So, it was timely this week that Daniel Kalderimis KC and Charlotte Griffin, shared their insights on mental health during Wellington’s lunchtime seminar, Mental Health and Philosophy for Lawyers.
“I really thought I had things all worked out,” said Kalderimis, a lawyer and author who experienced a deep depression at the height of his career. For him, depression brought feelings of alienation, self-loathing, and the sense that life’s joys were “painted on.” He said it was like he lost his internal compass, where his pursuit of success felt like climbing an endless ladder, but his achievements seemed worthless.
To bring himself back, he decided to learn from the world’s great thinkers, which resulted in his book, Zest: Climbing from Depression to Philosophy, to find out how philosophy and art can provide pathways to a healthier state of mind.
Kalderimis describes depression as a profound disconnection—from oneself, from others, and the world. The turning point for Kalderimis began by acknowledging the isolation. “The obvious first step is to fight against that sense of alienation by talking to people who have time for you,” he said. While they may not fully understand, reaching out is crucial.
"Your mind is a good tool for solving problems, but life is not a problem to be solved."
Kalderimis points to the risks of pathologising our responses to the world, challenging the conventional view of mental health issues as something that needs to be “fixed.” Instead, he draws on philosophy to argue that depression can be a signal—a call to reassess one’s priorities and connections. “Real depression is not just something to vanquish. It’s something you can learn from. That’s not to say medical treatment doesn’t have a part to play, just that we can also become wiser as to how our habits of thought can make ordinary life harder than it needs to be.”
For lawyers, whose profession often amplifies mental strain, this perspective is particularly relevant. “The demands of problem-solving can make the mind, and one’s thoughts, a difficult place to inhabit. Your mind is a good tool for solving problems, but life is not a problem to be solved. It can help to hold one’s thoughts and stories lightly, as they can tend to distort and distract from the world around us.”
Finding a way to reconnect—whether it's being collegial with colleagues, with art, or with philosophy—can be transformative. “Paying attention to the present and to the people who matter helps to combat the isolation that fuels depression.”
Kalderimis said that “mental health challenges, though daunting, can be an opportunity for growth. In the relentless world of law, it’s vital to step back, reconnect and reframe.” For Daniel Kalderimis KC, the path to a healthier frame of mind is not only about solving problems but about finding meaning in life.
Charlotte Griffin, barrister and District Inspector for Mental Health in the Wellington/Wairarapa region, believes improving mental health in the legal profession ought to be prioritised. While awareness of mental health issues has grown significantly, she stresses the importance of addressing systemic challenges to create a sustainable, healthier profession.
Traditionally, discussions about mental health in law have been framed around “work-life balance,” but Griffin argues for a broader perspective. “It’s about being able to live a full life without being burnt out and overwhelmed.” She said lawyers can succumb to prioritising the expectations of clients, the courts, and colleagues at the expense of their own well-being, families, and personal life. Griffin said the profession needs to be reminded that not everything is urgent and critical. Deadlines can be adjusted, and the world won’t collapse if a task is delayed to ensure the well-being of lawyers (especially young lawyers) is not unreasonably impacted and left unaddressed.
"A healthy workplace benefits everyone— time-poor lawyers who feel supported and in control of their lives broadly are more productive than those who are stressed out and overwhelmed by compounding work and personal pressure.”
“The pandemic highlighted the flexibility of legal work, showing that traditional five day per week office models aren’t the only way to efficiently practise law.” She continued, “a sustainable workplace today will see employers adapt to employees’ lives, accommodating where possible parenting, caregiving and other responsibilities within the traditional working week. A healthy workplace benefits everyone— time-poor lawyers who feel supported and in control of their lives broadly are more productive than those who are stressed out and overwhelmed by compounding work and personal pressure.”
Griffin suggests that the legal profession take inspiration from physical labourers. “They work physically hard during the day and then take time to rest their bodies at night to avoid injury. The brain is just an organ, and it needs exercise and rest in equal measure,” said Griffin. “Instead, lawyers often internalise mental stress and work long hours without adequate breaks to meet ever increasing demands. We find it hard to admit defeat and ask for help. This culture exacerbates mental health struggles if lawyers remain silent about the toll of work for fear of being seen as not up to the job,” she added.
Griffin points out that while depression or mental illness may not always stem from work, workplaces should not worsen existing challenges. “Employers must create safe environments that support mental health, just as they ensure physical safety. Just like if someone has cancer and needs time off, if someone is going through a mental health issue and similarly needs to take a step back, they shouldn’t feel (or be made to feel) ashamed of their health needs.”
“Do what interests you. Not what you think success is supposed to look like.”
One issue in the legal profession is that mental health challenges are often overlooked among professionals, said Griffin. “Lawyers may avoid seeking treatment believing they should be ‘capable enough’ to deal with the issue themselves rather than admit vulnerability.”
Griffin sees this in her work. In her role, she visits patients in Wellington’s mental health wards, yet she says she rarely sees lawyers or other professionals as patients there, "and it’s not because lawyers don’t get sick, it’s because for some reason they aren’t seeking or getting acute treatment.”
Her advice for lawyers is simple. “Do what interests you. Not what you think success is supposed to look like.” For those feeling trapped in a career path they dislike, Griffin encourages them to take a leap. “If you hate your job, leave it. Find one you like. It’s your life. You need to feel well and recognise yourself when you hang up your gown one day.”
The Law Society offers resources to support lawyers' mental health through Practising Well, including free counselling, management tools, wellness resources, and training. Mental hygiene takes many forms—whether attending CPD seminars, joining a Law Reform committee, contributing to your Section or Branch, or simply attending events, all fostering connection, collegiality and community. For more information, visit the Law Society’s Practising Well webpage.