Thank you so much to everyone who has responded. You have great suggestions for working on my mojo and I appreciate the nice things you said to me. You have buoyed me with your caring and support.

I have been doing this work for 20 years and I don't think I'm getting burned out. Burning out is when you start to feel ineffective and you can't feel empathy for your clients, and that's not me. I feel very much "called" to do this work and I would never want to switch to another area of law. I know that I'm good at it, even though I lose a lot It's not a good time to be a criminal defendant, from a caselaw perspective.

But sometimes it does get to me. I think on any other day I would have walked out of the prison, thought about my clients on the way home, then released their sadness from my heart and carried on. This is NOT usually how I feel. Usually I feel satisfied with my work and that I am moving forward with their cases in the way that is right for the time.

I have a very good support system. (RR, please don't worry about me). My H is very supportive about my work and always has been, my 10 year old is learning how to understand my client's stories and often shows incredible insight about people, I have many good friends in my community and outside. I recently had a medical scare and then thanksgiving with old friends that made me feel so incredible loved and cared for.

I don't often reach out to the people in my life, though. It was really wonderful that a friend called just minutes after I posted, and that made me feel good. But I often feel that my first role is to support or listen to others and put myself on the backburner-- maybe even in T day. I think I still have some leftover issues from childhood about reaching out for help and I need to do better about that. At least I posted here, despite the chaotic screaming in my head not to . . . .

Many thanks again, people. Anne