Lawyer’s Lantern
A Letter on Work/Life integrAtion By lOri l. GArrett
Dear lawyer’s lantern: 12
i am a mid-level, in-house attorney whose work load is increasing as a result of staff reductions at my company last year. i am a team player and want to help my group. But, increasingly, i find it difficult to get other things done. While i am not married and have no children, i do have a personal life and commit- ments outside of work that require my attention. My BlackBerry is a helpful work tool, but i’m finding it gives my col- leagues 24-7 access to my time, which i do not enjoy. Do not get me wrong, i lOVe my company and my work, but i also feel out of balance with the rest of my life. i would like to ask my employer for an adjustment in my work arrange- ment to allow me to have more flexibility to work from home. What should i do?
Very truly yours, Work/life Balance?
D DIVERSITY & THE BAR® MArCh/April 2011
ear Work/Life Balance?: Given the downsizing that has occurred in the legal profession over the last two years, you are
not alone. Many of us who are fortunate enough to still have jobs are having difficulties striking a balance between our workloads and the rest of our life responsibilities. Balance, however, suggests a state of equilibrium or an equal distribu- tion of time devoted to specific segments of life. Rather than looking at your circumstance as a herculean effort to balance two scales, you might consider a new perspective. Te concept of work-life integration, for example, is a frame that encourages us to bring together or incorporate the different parts of our lives, such as family, work, social life, and self- care, into a whole so that all can be meaningful experiences. You might also consider using technology to your bene-
fit. Instead of viewing your BlackBerry as a nuisance, think of it as a tool for integrating your personal and professional obligations more effectively. Smartphones enable you to be
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