At the bar's press conference held on Tuesday 18 October, , the outgoing president of the Bar, took the opportunity to give a brief assessment of her term of office, stressing one point which she considers to be of major importance: the creation of a "social bar" and a listening unit for lawyers in distress. It is the result of two surveys carried out in 2022 on the remuneration of young lawyers and on well-being in the sector.
The first survey showed that only 3 to 5% of participants were in a financially precarious situation at the very beginning of their career, i.e. "below the minimum qualified salary", said the former barrister.
Most of them work as employees, and remain "well paid". Nevertheless, there is now a circular (since 19 May 2022) which defines the collaboration between lawyers and the terms of remuneration of list II lawyers (interns), who represent 809 of the 3,230 lawyers at the bar.
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It is the second survey that has caught the attention of the Luxembourg Bar more, however. The results are only now being reported (and not yet published). "The results are not good, as is the case in neighbouring bar associations. They prompted us to very quickly create a listening unit with ten volunteer lawyers, which was active even before it was officially launched," says Dupong. The survey was sent in October 2021 to the 3,230 members, 1,100 returns were recorded, i.e. approximately one third of the lawyers registered with the Luxembourg Bar. Those in the 40-50 age group responded in higher numbers, followed by those in the 30-40 age group. On average, they have been at the bar for about 15 years. 87% of respondents said they needed real support from the bar.
The figures are telling: 77% of respondents say they feel their profession is particularly difficult, citing stress as the main reason. 35% plan to leave the profession in the near future, 20% say they are experiencing financial difficulties.
We need to educate lawyers to free themselves. There is a form of pride in not wanting to be seen to be in a weak position. As a legal support, they find it hard to admit that they need help themselves.
The study reports relatively widespread "addictive" behaviour (21% alcohol, 20% tobacco, 5% sedatives). 25% had suffered discrimination (mainly related to gender or origin), 25% moral harassment (70% were women) and 5% sexual harassment (87% of harassers were men). However, only 15% of lawyers who are victims of harassment have reported it. "We need to educate lawyers to free themselves. There is a form of pride in not wanting to be seen to be in a weak position. As a legal support, they find it hard to recognise they need help themselves."
No longer a taboo subject
In addition to information, legal publication, information and monitoring, the role of the bar is also to support the profession in the performance of its duties. The Bar Association sees this as an obligation of means, with the creation of the "[email protected]" hotline, governed by a charter, being the result. The lawyers who volunteer to help have, at the very least, been trained in mental health first aid.
"For the time being, the cell's missions are limited to listening, counselling and referral to other professionals. With regards to prevention and follow-up, partnerships are underway with contracted or private organisations in the Luxembourg social sector. as former vice-president of the Luxembourg Bar, had set up a support fund for the unit, which started with €83,000 allocated by the Council of the Bar. Future income is also to come from appeals for donations (colleagues and partner organisations). "This fund is not intended to cover lawyers' debts or to grant them loans," the Bar Association said in a statement.
Can and should the bar go further on a subject that obviously remains taboo? "It is no longer a taboo subject, and we have already taken a step forward, where there was nothing," says Dupong, without wanting to be a whistleblower. For the time being, the study's figures remain in the hands of the Bar Association, but they are sufficiently telling to alert the entire profession to the risks inherent in the profession. "We plan to make them public soon," said Reckinger, current president of the bar since 15 September. He will have to monitor the cell's progress until the next elections in 2024.
This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.