Why Empathy is Important in Law
Overview
The word empathy is frequently used when talking about improving legal workplace practices, environments, culture and leadership. However, what exactly does this mean? Why should lawyers be more empathetic? And how can we cultivate and develop empathy across the legal practice? This Practice Note introduces you to empathy in law and sets out concrete tips on how to develop empathy for yourself to become a more resilient and valuable legal professional.
Practical Guidance
What does it mean to be empathetic?
Empathy is a psychological state, defined in the Oxford Dictionary as the “ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” Essentially, empathy allows a person to recognize and understand the emotional state of another. Being empathetic is often described as being able to stand in the shoes of another person and see, feel and think from their perspective.