STAYING FOCUSED AND AVOIDING BURNOUT Berkeley Law Academic

STAYING FOCUSED AND AVOIDING BURNOUT Berkeley Law Academic Skills Program Workshop February 10, 2021

WHAT IS “BURNOUT”? • Exhaustion • Lack of motivation • Alienation or detachment • Frustration, cynicism, and other negative emotions • Difficulty focusing • Not taking care of yourself • Being preoccupied with school even when you are not studying or in class • Generally decreased satisfaction • Health problems

IMPOSTOR PHENOMENON • A set of beliefs telling you that if you don’t perform perfectly (according to an arbitrary standard), you don’t belong • Fear of being unmasked as a fraud • Exacerbated by stereotype threat

• Remember: it is not a personal failing! • Physical habits for well-being and performance STRATEGIES TO BEAT BURNOUT • • • Getting outside Moving your body Giving yourself permission to rest • Growth mindset • Mindfulness • Reconnecting with your purpose and passion

GROWTH MINDSET • Success is not the result of innate or “fixed” abilities • Strategies • Skills • Planning • Practice • Mindset itself is a belief that we can change!

MINDFULNESS • Permission to begin again, as often as necessary • “Life is not personal, permanent, or perfect. ” • • • Your performance in law school is not who you are Things are constantly changing There are things we can control; other times we breathe and let it pass

EXERCISE: PURPOSE + PASSION • What core values and goals are most motivating to you? • Reflect on last semester: were things you did to stay connected with your values and goals? • Plan for this semester: how will you keep your values and goals top of mind? • What opportunities for growth (knowledge and/or skill) can you identify?

TIME M ANA GEMENT + SELF-CARE “Working smarter, not harder” Pomodoro method? Making time and space for non-law school activities, hobbies, friends Scheduling out busy weeks and the finals period

WHAT MAKES A GOOD LAWYER? • Skills, not grades • Marjorie M. Shultz and Sheldon Zedeck, Predicting Lawyer Effectiveness: Broadening the Basis for Law School Admissions Decisions, LAW & SOCIAL INQUIRY, JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN BAR FOUNDATION, Vol. 36, Issue 3, 620, 661 (2011).

SHULTZ & ZEDECK’S LAWYERING EFFECTIVENESS FACTORS 1. Intellectual and Cognitive 2. Research & Information Gathering • • • Researching the Law • Fact Finding • Questioning and Interviewing Analysis and Reasoning Creativity and Innovation Problem Solving Practical Judgment

SHULTZ & ZEDECK’S LAWYERING EFFECTIVENESS FACTORS 3. Communications • • Influencing and Advocating Writing Speaking Listening 4. Planning & Organization • Strategic Planning • Organizing and Managing One’s Own Work • Organizing and Managing Others (Staff/Colleagues)

SHULTZ & ZEDECK’S LAWYERING EFFECTIVENESS FACTORS 5. Conflict Resolution • Negotiation Skills • Able to See the World Through the Eyes of Others 6. Clients & Business Relations • Networking & Business Development • Providing Advice & Counsel & Building Relationships with clients

SHULTZ & ZEDECK’S LAWYERING EFFECTIVENESS FACTORS 7. Working With Others 8. Character • Developing Relationships within the Legal Profession • Evaluation, Development, and Mentoring • • • Passion and Engagement Diligence Integrity/Honesty Stress Management Community Involvement and Service • Self-Development

BUILDING TOWARD SUCCESS AS A LAWYER • Focus on skills, not grades • Which of the lawyering skills do you already have? • Which do you want to cultivate? • How? • • Summer jobs, externships, clinics, pro bono work, advocacy competitions, skills classes, etc. Before fall course enrollment, schedule an academic advising appointment with Student Services

SPRING ASP WORKSHOPS • February 10 at 1 -2 pm: Rethinking Your Study Strategies • February 17 at 1 -2 pm: Exam Workshop • March 31 at 1 -2 pm: Exam Workshop • April 19 at 1 -2 pm: Exam Workshop

RESOURCES • Mid-Week Mindfulness: Wednesdays @ 1 -2 pm • Student Services • ASP meetings with Haley or Prof. Di. Gennaro • ASP Fellows: labs, office hours, and feedback on practice questions • Berkeley Law staff psychologists • Tang Center Psychological & Counseling Services