It Burned Me All Down

Erin Durant's career took a sharp turn when she suffered a devastating burnout while working at one of Canada's largest law firms. Even as a law firm partner, she found herself isolated and with little control over her career. These factors as well as the stresses associated with being a millennial woman in law contributed to her personal crisis. The author describes her personal struggles to manage the riggers of a Big Law practice in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and provides advice to organizations and professionals dealing with mental health issues in high performing workplaces.

This book is a must-read for law firm management and for anyone supervising a high performance team. Individuals undergoing their own crisis may also find comfort in the text as it describes the author's journey back from the darkness and forwards towards a successful career.

Early Praise for "It Burned Me All Down"

"Erin Durant's story is a must read for all legal professionals. Whether you're a true solo or in Big Law, a managing partner, junior associate or law clerk, Erin's candid, heartfelt book It Burned Me All Down is packed with details that will resonate with you.

"We may think we know what is going on in the lives and minds of our colleagues and friends, but we do not - unless we listen intentional to the unfiltered source. We may think we are doing all the right things, but we are not - unless we understand the root of the problem and the perspectives and experiences of those affected. "It Burned Me All Down" exposes those truths. In an act of pure generosity, Erin Durant renders a deeply personal and raw account of the road to burnout in a law firm. The book provides a rare, unvarnished point of view, with excellent inspiration and insight on how we can and need to do better. A must-read."

- Dominique Hussey, Vice Chair and Toronto Managing Partner at Bennett Jones

"Bravo to Erin for her quick, personal, and compelling tale about her crisis in late 2020 and early 2021. Too often, this kind of story is the stuff of whispers, to the detriment of the legal profession and the person. Too often, a person would be discouraged from telling her story. The beauty in Erin's book is that she does it simply and with others and change in mind. She offers practical solutions that align with what my clients and others with lived experience have told me. That is, to help a person through a crisis, start with their self-identified needs: practical supports that can lift the burden, slow a downward spiral, and ease pain. For the profession, Erin shows us that lawyers want to be more than another part of the assembly line of law. They want resources, they want meaningful relationships, and they want to be heard. Erin's openness about her struggles and her strengths are a gift to the profession which should be responded to with thanks and change."

- Suzan E. Fraser, Fraser Advocacy

"Erin Durant has written a brave and candid book that all legal professionals should read. Even prior to the pandemic, mental health and additions issues were affecting lawyers in disproportionate numbers. Erin's up close and personal account of her own struggles and eventual break-down is relatable and instructive. An emotional read, it is compelling and authentic. Her take on lawyer wellness and resiliency messaging offers a needed first-person perspective. Erin correctly identifies that the problem lies with systems, not the affected person. I commend this helpful and important book to everyone who works in the legal profession and beyond."

Anita Szigeti, Founding President of Law and Mental Disorder Association

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