Conference Schedule

In this “fireside” chat, Bernardo Ferdman, Ph.D., and Denise Robinson, J.D., will unpack the critical role that genuine inclusion plays in fostering well-being and success in the legal profession. In a dynamic and engaging conversation, they will offer a clear, practical definition of inclusion, illuminating how the practice of inclusion functions as the foundation of a thriving organizational culture and individual and collective success. They will highlight the unique impact of inclusion on legal professionals, exploring how bringing inclusion to life can enhance engagement and problem-solving, strengthen resilience, and mitigate risks of ambiguous attributions. Grounded in research and experience, and mindful of the realities of legal practice, the speakers will share strategies, model exercises, and propose actions that attendees can use to cultivate inclusion in their teams and organizations, to foster greater well-being, and to bring out the best in themselves and each other.

The Alberta Lawyers’ Assistance Society (Assist) provides mental health and well-being support to Alberta’s legal community. In response to a 2018-2019 report highlighting discrimination and harassment issues faced by articling students, Assist launched Red Mug Coffee Circles as a grassroots peer support initiative. Senior lawyers, trained in peer support, stationed themselves in coffee shops near courthouses to offer anonymous guidance to junior lawyers and students. Identifiable by a red mug, they created a safe, informal setting for discussing workplace challenges. During the pandemic, these meetings moved online, providing continued support for lawyers facing isolation and harassment.

Initially aimed at articling students, the program has also attracted internationally trained lawyers navigating discrimination and credentialing challenges in Alberta’s legal field. We will feature a speaker who benefitted from Red Mug early in her career and now mentors others. The session includes data from the original study that inspired Red Mug and visual highlights from Canada’s National Study on Legal Professionals’ Psychological Health. We’ll share anonymized participant stories and photos from events like “May the Fourth Be With You.”

Participants will receive a step-by-step guide to establishing their own coffee circle, as well as budget insights to illustrate the program’s cost-effectiveness in fostering mental health and DEI goals within the legal profession.

Attendees will receive a simple guide to starting their own peer support circles, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness in fostering mental health and DEI goals within the legal community.

In the demanding landscape of law school, mental health and emotional well-being often receive limited attention. This session examines the impactful role of an embedded therapy dog within a law school setting, offering evidence-based insights on how these animals can reduce stress, strengthen community bonds, and support a balanced lifestyle for students, faculty, and staff alike. Through a blend of research and real-world examples, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how a therapy dog’s presence fosters emotional resilience, boosts academic performance, and cultivates a supportive, inclusive atmosphere. Practical steps for introducing and maintaining a therapy dog program in law schools will be shared, empowering attendees to advocate for similar initiatives in their institutions.

Join the leaders of Goodwin’s Thriving with ADHD series as they share firsthand insights on creating a workplace that embraces neurodiversity and promotes well-being. This session will explore the significant impact of supporting neurodiverse colleagues, including how safe spaces for sharing resources, advice, and community-building can enhance both individual satisfaction and organizational culture. It will reinforce the important role of education in fostering understanding and awareness to ensure that all team members are equipped with the knowledge to create an inclusive workplace.

The panel discussion will cover three key areas:

The Importance of Neurodiversity Support – The presenters will discuss why neurodiversity matters and how tailored programs for neurodiverse colleagues benefit both employees and the organization.

Building “Thriving with ADHD” – Goodwin team members will share the development journey of the programming, from soliciting feedback and securing leadership support to collaborating with experts and adapting based on participant input.

Outcomes and Future Directions – The presenters will reflect on the impact on participants and firm culture, along with plans to support additional neurodiverse needs and advance well-being across the organization.

This panel explores how physical health and nutrition can support mental resilience and well-being in law. Attendees will learn simple, evidence-based strategies to boost mental clarity, manage stress, and maintain energy—all designed for the legal profession. Topics will cover the impact of nutrition on stress and hormone health, offering quick dietary tips, stress-relief exercises, and practical swaps like using stainless steel over plastic. One expert will introduce the “5/5 Program for a Healthy Gut,” a five-day plan with easy steps to reduce stress and improve focus. Another will provide advice on healthy food choices for busy schedules. Interactive elements, such as live polls and Q&A, plus takeaway resources, ensure participants leave with actionable tools to build resilience and enhance their well-being through physical health.

As awareness of mental health in the legal profession grows, law schools are increasingly offering courses centered on well-being. Join three attorneys and advocates who have each designed and currently teach courses on mental health and well-being at their respective law schools. This panel will provide an in-depth look at the organization and structure of these courses, including topics covered, credit allocations, course duration (semester vs. year), and evaluation methods (papers vs. exams). Panelists will also discuss the development and approval process at the University at Buffalo School of Law, the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and Wake Forest University School of Law, offering insights into overcoming challenges and gaining support. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas and best practices for implementing well-being-focused curricula in their own institutions to help prepare law students for a sustainable and balanced career.

In the demanding world of law, feelings of isolation can be surprisingly common. Gallup reports that only 3 in 10 employees have close friends at work, despite strong connections being crucial to retention and well-being. This panel tackles the often-overlooked issue of loneliness in law firms, emphasizing that those who feel disconnected are not alone—and that there are practical steps to build meaningful connections.

Panelists will explore why friendships in the workplace matter and share actionable advice for building authentic relationships, even in high-pressure environments. Participants will learn strategies for reaching out to colleagues, navigating busy schedules to create connection opportunities, and fostering a culture where everyone feels included. Leaders will also gain insights into supporting a connected, collaborative team without losing focus on firm goals.

Through interactive discussions and relatable scenarios, attendees will leave with realistic ways to combat loneliness and foster a more connected, fulfilling work life in their firms.

Effective communication is critical for cultivating a culture of well-being within an organization. While messages promoting positive strategies like gratitude, mindfulness, exercise, and habit-building can be helpful, they must be balanced with recognition and acknowledgment of the real challenges individuals face or they risk coming across as inauthentic or causing those who are already struggling to feel even more isolated or flawed. In this program, we will explore how legal organizations can openly and meaningfully highlight challenges and adverse factors affecting legal professionals’ well-being, and the importance of doing so for a well-being program to establish credibility. We will discuss how both organizational and individual communication can create space where struggles are openly acknowledged, reducing stigma and fostering support. We will provide actionable strategies for addressing both the more positive and the more challenging aspects of well-being in ways that promote understanding, empathy, and connection. By the end of the session, you’ll have tools to create an environment where fear and shame about well-being struggles are minimized, where help-seeking is meaningfully and genuinely encouraged, and where every team member feels heard, valued, and supported in navigating both their successes and struggles.

This insightful panel discussion will offer innovative approaches to judicial wellness across various states. This panel will examine how judicial wellness programs are developing and how they support judges facing the unique stresses and mental health challenges of the judicial profession.

Panelists include Retired Judge Sandra Engel from New Mexico, who brings extensive experience in judicial support initiatives; Justice Thomas P. Mann of the Supreme Court of Virginia, an advocate for enhancing mental health resources in the judiciary; Justice Beth Walker of the Supreme Court of West Virginia; Charlene Reilly, a key member of the Virginia Judge and Lawyers Assistance Program, known for her hands-on experience in judicial mental health; Hetal Challa, Wellness Coordinator from the Supreme Court of Virginia, whose work focuses on creating sustainable wellness frameworks for the state’s judiciary; Joan Bibelhausen; and Heidi Alexander, IWIL’s Immediate Past Board President.

This session will explore diverse strategies used to foster resilience and mental well-being in the judiciary, discuss successful state-level programs, and address the barriers to implementing effective wellness initiatives. Panelists will share best practices, lessons learned, and provide practical insights for creating a supportive environment within the judicial system.

Legal practice presents pressures that can challenge even the most resilient professionals. Whether you’re a litigator, prosecutor, public defender, or working in another high-stakes legal environment, the demands of your role can take a toll on mental health and well-being. This panel will explore the unique challenges faced in different legal roles, offering insights and practical strategies from those who’ve navigated these pressures firsthand.

Experienced professionals will share how they’ve maintained well-being in demanding contexts, addressing stressors like heavy caseloads, exposure to complex cases, tight deadlines, and the pressure to deliver results. The session will also discuss the added burden of working in systems that may conflict with personal values.

Key Takeaways:

• Insights into the distinct challenges of various legal roles and managing emotional impacts.
• Evidence-based strategies to enhance mental health, resilience, and work-life balance.
• Exploring the connection between well-being and sustainable career satisfaction.
• Recognizing the disproportionate impact on marginalized legal professionals and strategies to create supportive environments.

Join us for an engaging fireside chat as renowned law professor Larry Krieger redefines what it means to study and practice law with joy. In conversation with our host, Professor Krieger will challenge the traditional “stress mindset” that permeates legal education and practice, proposing that a paradigm shift—not just stress management—is essential to meaningful change.

Based on his recent article, “From Stressful to Mindful to Joyful,” Professor Krieger will discuss why familiar approaches like mindfulness and work-life balance, while helpful, are insufficient. Instead, he argues, the goal should be the regular experience of joy—a fundamental transformation beyond momentary relief. He suggests that the deep-seated beliefs about what it means to be a lawyer drive the constant stress of the profession, and only by rethinking these beliefs can true well-being be achieved.

Professor Krieger’s approach, informed by research and his work with students, advocates for “out of the box” strategies to shift away from a mindset of stress and suffering to one of resilience and joy. Attendees will leave with practical insights, including a simple practice Professor Krieger has developed, designed to start reframing their professional experience immediately.

Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation on how joy can become the new standard in the legal field.

Join Dr. Carol D. Ryff, one of the world’s foremost experts on well-being, for a transformative keynote on the science and practice of eudaimonic well-being. Drawing from over three decades of pioneering research inspired by Aristotle’s philosophy and psychological science, Dr. Ryff will explore the dimensions of eudaimonia, including purpose, personal growth, resilience, and the quality of our relationships.

Discover how these elements are linked to longer, healthier lives through their impact on stress hormones, inflammation, and health behaviors like sleep and fitness. Dr. Ryff will also discuss the challenges posed by stressors such as financial strain, discrimination, and work-family conflict, which can diminish well-being and elevate risks for depression and anxiety.

This keynote will leave you with actionable strategies to cultivate well-being in your own life and foster it within your professional and personal communities, honoring Aristotle’s enduring insights on virtue and flourishing.

Rest is having a moment—and for good reason. Research reveals that sufficient rest boosts cognitive function, emotional regulation, and creativity—key attributes for any successful lawyer. Even Lululemon now champions “Rest Day as the Best Day,” and countries worldwide are adopting “Right to Disconnect” laws. But has the legal profession embraced rest? In this program, a lawyer-turned-well-being expert, a clinical psychologist, and a DEI leader will examine rest’s role in sustaining legal professionals’ performance and resilience. Together, we’ll dive into the science behind rest, its benefits for knowledge workers, and how grind culture in law perpetuates burnout and identity-based marginalization. Participants will be encouraged to reconsider traditional success metrics and explore how a balanced approach can foster healthier, long-lasting careers.

Key program objectives include:

Understanding the Science of Rest: Learn about research on rest’s impact on cognitive function, emotional regulation, and creativity in high-stress environments.

Examining Grind Culture’s Impact: Analyze how the profession’s “always-on” mentality fuels burnout and compounds identity-based marginalization.

Applying Individual and Organizational Strategies: Identify actionable ways to promote a rest-positive culture at both the individual and organizational levels.

As a bonus, participants can experience a brief yoga nidra session—a guided, meditative rest technique that enhances relaxation, mental clarity, and emotional balance. This session offers a hands-on look at rest’s powerful effects, inspiring a refreshed approach to well-being in law.

For decades, studies on mental well-being in the legal field have focused on law students and practicing attorneys, yet little attention has been paid to the well-being of law professors. This panel explores the unique pressures law faculty face today, questioning whether the emotional and mental challenges inherent to their roles affect their capacity to support students effectively. Inspired by Jerome Organ’s work on law students, we ask: Are law professors silently grappling with similar strains?

Topics include the equity disparities between doctrinal and legal writing professors, often divided by rank and resources, and the impact of law school rankings, which create high-stakes pressure that influences morale and well-being. Faculty members are also under stress to adapt curricula in response to an evolving bar exam, while navigating the complexities of office politics.

The discussion will also examine the lack of institutional resources available to support law professors and explore potential initiatives to improve well-being in this often-overlooked population. By shedding light on the mental health challenges unique to law faculty, we aim to spark new conversations around supporting their well-being—ultimately impacting students’ learning environments.

Research shows that employees who feel safe and supported in their work environments experience increased well-being, higher engagement, and improved performance. In today’s diverse law firms, fostering a culture of trust and inclusivity is not only essential but can directly impact the overall success and satisfaction of legal teams. This session, Building Trust and Inclusivity: The Impact of Safe Spaces on Law Firm Culture and Well-being, will explore the evidence-based benefits of creating safe spaces and their critical role in supporting mental health, inclusivity, and psychological safety. Attendees will gain insights from studies linking safe spaces to better communication, reduced burnout, and stronger workplace relationships.

Presenters will provide practical examples of how to establish physical and virtual environments where individuals can thrive personally and professionally. Participants will leave with a toolkit including conversation starters, empathy-building exercises, and guidelines for creating inclusive meeting practices. These takeaways will empower law firm leaders to foster personal growth, resilience, and professional success.

Navigating the legal profession as a lawyer with disabilities often means confronting significant challenges, from implicit bias to practical barriers in the workplace. This session will explore how accommodations and well-being initiatives can transform these challenges into opportunities for inclusion, support, and professional growth.

With a focus on state-level programs such as mentorship initiatives and Lawyer Assistance Programs (LAPs), this session will highlight actionable strategies for firms, organizations, and individuals to foster inclusive work environments. Topics will include integrating service animals in legal settings, managing time-based accommodations, and developing peer-to-peer support networks. Presenters will share personal experiences and real-world case studies to bring these concepts to life, offering a holistic perspective on addressing the unique needs of lawyers with disabilities.

Attendees will leave with:
Guidance on implementing accommodations effectively in their organizations.
Insight into building peer and mentorship programs that support lawyers with disabilities.
Tools for addressing implicit bias and fostering cultural change.
Practical resources for individuals seeking support, including how to access state-level LAPs and related initiatives.

This session is a call to action for leaders at all levels to promote meaningful dialogue about accommodations and to champion a culture of belonging, well-being, and respect within the legal profession.

Like many others, the legal profession is navigating a multi-generational workforce with varying well-being needs and expectations. This session will explore the findings of the Bloomberg Law 2024 Attorney Well-Being Report, conducted in collaboration with Patrick Krill, and provide a closer look at the well-being experiences of attorneys across five generations. While the data offers valuable insights, the session will focus on understanding the study’s limitations, such as sample size, response bias, and generational nuances that may not fully capture the complexity of the legal profession.

By acknowledging these limitations, we will discuss what can still be learned from the research and how it might help guide future inquiries into generational well-being differences. Rather than making definitive recommendations for applying the findings, the session will provide a thoughtful exploration of how such data can inform our understanding of generational dynamics in the workplace and highlight areas that may require further study.
After this session, attendees will:

• Gain an understanding of the generational trends in attorney well-being as reported in the Bloomberg Law 2024 study.
• Learn about the limitations of the study and why these need to be considered when interpreting the findings.
• Engage in a discussion about what still can be learned from this research and where future studies might expand on the data.

Mentorship is a critical component of successfully transitioning from law school into professional practice. In this session, two experts—one from a law school and the other from a state mentorship program—will explore the importance of mentorship in fostering career growth, professional development, and well-being for law students and new attorneys. The session will delve into the structure and best practices of mentorship programs, highlighting strategies that can be implemented within law schools and by state-supported initiatives.

Speakers will share their experiences running successful mentorship programs, including practical advice on recruitment, pairing mentors with mentees, and ensuring meaningful, lasting relationships. They will also discuss the profound impact that mentorship can have on the overall transition to practice, both for students and the legal profession at large. Participants will leave with insights into how they can contribute to or implement mentorship programs in their own institutions and jurisdictions, creating pathways for success in the early stages of legal careers.

Over the past five years, we have had the privilege of teaching the course Designing a Fulfilling Life in the Law at the University of Michigan Law School. Through this course, we aim to address one of the most pressing issues in the legal profession today: attorney well-being. The American Bar Association (ABA) has identified attorney well-being as a critical priority, highlighting the need for proactive approaches to fostering a healthy and sustainable professional life. Our course is an attempt to equip future lawyers with the tools to design a meaningful and balanced life that integrates both personal and professional fulfillment. The curriculum of Designing a Fulfilling Life in the Law focuses on life design principles, which empower students to take ownership of their life choices, explore their values, and cultivate a strong sense of purpose. Additionally, these principles are integrated into our externship program, allowing students to apply what they have learned in real-world legal settings. The combination of classroom instruction and experiential learning provides students with a comprehensive understanding of how to align their careers with their personal goals and values. The impact of the Design a Fulfilling Life course has been measured through comprehensive surveys, and the results reflect its profound effect on students‚ well-being. Key findings include: ‚ A 10.3% improvement in overall life satisfaction and a 13.8% increase in happiness after taking the course.

Students reported greater mindfulness, with a 3.3% increase in noticing positive aspects of their lives, and a 9.6% improvement in their perception of physical health. Notably, financial stress was reduced, with 7.1% fewer students worrying about living expenses post-course. These results emphasize the importance of courses like ours in shaping the holistic well-being of future attorneys. By helping students reflect on their purpose, articulate their values, and integrate well-being into their definition of success, we are equipping them not just for the legal profession but for life. This presentation will offer insight into our curriculum and share data demonstrating the tangible benefits of life design education in law schools. As the legal profession continues to evolve, integrating well-being into legal education is not just desirable‚ it is essential. We invite attendees to explore the transformative potential of life design curricula and consider how such approaches can be expanded across legal education.

This interactive fireside chat brings together thought leaders and experts from the conference’s four tracks—individual, law school, state, and organizational well-being—to explore the future of well-being in law. In addition to hearing from our distinguished panelists, the session will invite audience participation, creating a collaborative space for community brainstorming. Share your insights, ideas, and questions as we collectively navigate emerging trends, address persistent challenges, and identify innovative solutions. Join us to connect perspectives, spark new strategies, and help shape the future of well-being in the legal profession.