2023 Attorney Wellness - A Year in Review

The new year tends to be a time of reflection as we consider how far we’ve come and start to think about the exciting possibilities for the year ahead. It is in that spirit of reflection that I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our amazing well-being community. Looking back on the past three years, our accomplishments have been truly extraordinary, and none of them would have been possible without our partners. 

"Over the past year, more than 250 individuals volunteered over 15,000 hours to drive meaningful change in the legal profession"

Over the past year, more than 250 individuals volunteered over 15,000 hours to drive meaningful change in the legal profession. Community member contributions have been invaluable, whether it was serving on committees, organizing events like Well-Being Week in Law and the Well-Being Conference, advocating for policy changes at various levels, or supporting research to better understand the unique challenges faced by our industry. In essence, you have helped us make significant progress towards our Strategic Pillars:  

1. Education and Awareness - We have taken the lead in raising awareness about well-being within legal circles through educational initiatives and awareness-building activities. 
2. Advocacy and Technical Support - We have amplified our voice on well-being issues through active engagement in policy discussions. 
3. Research and Scholarship - We have advanced evidence-based data and scholarship on well-being in the legal profession. 

Together, we have achieved the following milestones:  

1. Partners in Change - Our well-being partners have grown from 1,368 to nearly 5,000. 
2. Policy & Advocacy - Well-Being Initiatives, Task Forces, & Committees are now established in all 50 states. 
3. Research & Scholarship - In January, we will embark on groundbreaking research in collaboration with the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) and the University of Utah, conducting a scientifically valid well-being study among Hispanic lawyers to provide valuable data on the challenges they face. 
4. Education and Awareness - We have exciting initiatives in this area, including hosting the second Well-Being in Law Conference from January 23-25, 2024, featuring over 60 well-being experts and Dr. Laurie Santos as our Keynote Speaker. We have also successfully organized Well-Being Week in Law for three years, attracting over 1800 participants for a week filled with webinars, activities, challenges, and fun. 

Additionally, we have produced 30 episodes of the Path to Well-Being in Law podcast, with a new season on the way. Our Speaker Series brings leading well-being experts to discuss individual, workplace, and systemic change.  

It has been an honor to serve as the president of The Institute for Well-Being in Law for the past year and I am filled with optimism about the opportunities that lie ahead. The collective power of our group will continue to drive our industry forward, with well-being at the core of professional practice. Once again, thank you for your incredible work in 2023 let us look forward to the journey we will embark on together in 2024!  

Don't forget to register for the 2024 Well-Being in Law Conference!