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European Judicial Training Network at Green Street

Law Society Psychological Services introduced its Well Within the Law model to a gathering of the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) in Dublin (16 May).

The session was delivered as part of a wider programme on personal leadership and effective communication, and guided participants through reflective practices using real-world case studies.

The Psychological Services team used the Well Within the Law model to explore how judges could lead most effectively in complex and demanding environments.

In a significant gathering of Europe’s senior judiciary at Dublin’s historic Green Street Courthouse, 18 countries were represented at the EJTN annual event.

Invited by Ireland’s judiciary

The event was opened by Chief Justice Donal O'Donnell and attended by High Court President Mr Justice David Barniville, as well as Court of Appeal President Ms Justice Caroline Costello.

“It is a testament to the seriousness with which the judiciary now treats psychological insight that such a high-ranking, international cohort gathered, in Dublin, for this kind of training,” Antoinette Moriarty, head of Law Society Psychological Services, commented.

“Our service was particularly interested in the commonality of experiences across the European region,” she added.

Psychological load

The extraordinary psychological load under which judges operate was the theme that emerged as universal for the participants, who came from countries that included Germany, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Greece, Malta, Czech Republic, and Latvia.

Issues such as professional isolation, excessive caseloads, and exposure to traumatic or complex cases were common across jurisdictions.

These challenges highlight the value of leadership approaches that prioritise psychological supports for judges.

“Mindfulness techniques grounded in neuroscience and psychology can strengthen emotional regulation and cultivate reflective practice needed for effective leadership in demanding judicial environments,” said Mary Duffy of Law Society Psychological Services.

Structured around the dynamic interplay between the individual, the professional environment, and professional support, the session promoted the idea that effective leadership was both personal and systemic.

Building judicial culture from inside out

While judicial education has traditionally centred on law and procedure, this event reflects a growing recognition across Europe that psychological and relational capacities are vital.

The event closed with an open peer discussion, inviting judges to consider how these approaches could inform the delegates’ own national judicial training, as well as their wellbeing strategies, and arrive at a coherent leadership approach across European jurisdictions.

Through strategy workshops and systemic interventions, Well Within the Law has been redefining judicial wellbeing as a professional priority, and this session built on the foundation laid by the existing initiative led by Law Society Psychological Services in partnership with the Irish judiciary.