Well-Being Blog

Health and the Happy Lawyer: Six Simple Wellness Hacks for More Energy and Less Stress

CatalystBy Michael Brafford October 6, 2024

Imagine a world where lawyers are among the happiest and healthiest professionals—where stress and time sheets don’t overshadow your passion for the law. What if we could redefine the narrative and prioritize well-being in our demanding field? You’re part of a new generation and a transformative culture of lawyers. This week and for the next 5 weeks, challenge yourself to take one small step each day toward that vision. Join the IWIL mission and be a catalyst for change, not just for yourself, but for your colleagues and the profession as a whole. Together, we can build a community that supports health, happiness, and overall well-being. It’s easier than you might think…

Preliminary Findings from the Hispanic Lawyers Wellness Study Highlight Mental Health Challenges

CatalystBy Michael Brafford October 6, 2024

The legal profession is notorious for its high-pressure environment, long working hours, and emotional strain, but new research from the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) in collaboration with the Institute for Well-being in Law (IWIL) and Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH) is shedding light on the unique challenges faced by Hispanic lawyers. Preliminary results from the first ever Hispanic Lawyers Wellness Study reveal significant levels of burnout, depression, and anxiety among Hispanic legal professionals, calling attention to an urgent need for tailored mental health interventions within the profession.

PRESS RELEASE: Institute for Well-Being in Law Commends Florida Supreme Court for Amendment on Mental Health Questions

Press ReleaseBy Michael Brafford September 20, 2024

The Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL) commends the Florida Supreme Court for its recent decision to amend Question 25 on the Florida bar application, which previously specified mental health diagnoses that could potentially disqualify individuals from practicing law. This significant change is a crucial step toward reducing stigma surrounding mental health and fostering a more supportive environment for future legal professionals.

IWIL Alert – January 2024

UncategorizedBy Deryck White February 13, 2024

The latest IWIL news for you January 2024 IWIL ALERT NEWS & MORE THE ED REPORT – Denise Gaskin New Yearís Intentions. The New Year always causes me to stop and reflect on what the past year brought and what might be up next, personally and professionally. Not necessarily New Yearís Resolutions, but more…

IWIL Alert – December 2023

UncategorizedBy Deryck White February 12, 2024

The latest IWIL news for you December 2023 IWIL ALERT NEWS AND MORE THE ED REPORT – Denise Gaskin Welcome to the December issue of the IWIL Alert. Our Programming Team, led by VP of Programming Anne Brafford, JD, MAPP, has designed a fantastic line-up of speakers and topics for our 2024 Well-Being in…

2023 Reed Smith Award for Excellence in Well-Being in Law

UncategorizedBy Deryck White February 1, 2024

Co-Chair of the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being and Founding Organizer of IWIL honored as the 2023 Reed Smith Award for Excellence in Well-Being in Law Recipient Bree honored during the Institute for Well-Being in Law 2024 Conference WASHINGTON D.C.- The Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL) named Bree Buchanan as the recipient of…

Well-Being in Law Advocates Critical of Fifth Circuit Boudreaux Decision

BlogBy Michael Brafford December 6, 2023

November 20, 2023 – The Institute for Well-Being in Law (“IWIL”), a non-profit think tank dedicated to the betterment of the legal profession by focusing on a holistic approach to well-being, blasted a Fifth Circuit’s decision in Boudreaux v. La. State Bar Ass’n, No. 22-30564 (5th Cir. Nov. 13, 2023) The Court held that, as…

Path To Wellbeing Podcast Episode 30: Javoyne Hicks

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 30: R. Javoyne Hicks

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan October 11, 2023

Javoyne Hicks serves as Chair of the State Bar of Georgia’s Lawyers Living Well Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee for State Bar’s Board of Governors. Over the last several years Ms. Hicks has been committed to promoting the importance of wellness on all levels–physical, mental, social and financial–throughout the programs offered…

Julian Sarafian

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 29: Julian Sarafian

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan September 27, 2023

Julian Sarafian is a lawyer and content creator. His law firm – For Creators by Creators PC – is the premiere law firm focused on representing content creators and social media influencers. As a content creator himself, Julian produces videos and blog posts related to the legal profession, law, and mental health on Tiktok, Youtube,…

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 28: Tara Antonipillai

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan April 26, 2023

The founder of Cultivate, Tara Antonipillai’s experience in professional well-being comes from a career in Big Law, a masters degree in positive psychology, and ongoing research in the field. Tara is a speaker, teacher and author who combines her unique set of skills to introduce topics that include the science of well-being, job-satisfaction, communication, stress…

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 27: Nathalie Cadieux

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan April 12, 2023

Nathalie Cadieux has a Ph.D. from the University of Montreal specializing on the mental health of professionals in a regulated profession. Canadian leader on mental health research among legal professionals, she is professor in the Department of Management and Human Resources Management at the University of Sherbrooke’s business school. Speaker and author of several international…

Your Office Space Matters More Than You Think – Here’s What You Need to Know

Blog, CatalystBy Deryck White March 9, 2023

Nicole DeNamur (she/her), Owner, Sustainable Strategies PLLC Many law firm leaders are asking how they can “get people back to the office.” That question needs to be reframed to, “How can we draw people back?” Forcing employees to return to the office is not an effective strategy. The answer: Create office spaces where employees feel…

Bonus Content: Recommended Listening

Blog, CatalystBy Deryck White November 29, 2022

Bonus Content: Recommended Listening Professor Susan D. Carle and Professor Terry Davidson Professor Susan D. Carle, American University Washington College of Law Terry Davidson, Trone Family Eminent Scholar Chair in Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Neuroscience, American University The holiday season brings an opportunity to consider the impact of diet on the brain. Professors Susan…

Tis the Season for Extra Stress: Reframing the Holiday Mindset

Blog, CatalystBy Deryck White November 29, 2022

‘Tis the Season for Extra Stress: Reframing the Holiday Mindset By Jessie Spressart, Managing Director of Optia Consulting Jessie Spressart is the CEO of Optia Consulting, with the mission to help lawyers and law firms thrive in the 21st century. An experienced coach and facilitator, she focuses on intergenerational communication, management and leadership skills, and…

Harnessing the Power of Emotional Granularity: Specifically Labeling Your Difficult Emotions.

Blog, CatalystBy Deryck White November 29, 2022

Harnessing the Power of Emotional Granularity: Specifically Labeling Your Difficult Emotions. Jarrett Green, Esq., M.A. Psychology, Lecturer in Law at USC Law School and UC Irvine School of Law Rebecca Simon Green, Esq., Wellness Champion, and Lecturer in Law at USC Law School and UC Irvine School of Law Jarrett Green, Esq., M.A., is a…

Beyond Self-Care: Applied Neuroscience Can Help You Reclaim Joy in Legal Practice

Blog, CatalystBy Deryck White November 29, 2022

Beyond Self-Care: Applied Neuroscience Can Help You Reclaim Joy in Legal Practice By Kendra Brodin, Esq., MSW, Catherine Duncan MA, BCC., and Henry Emmons, MD Kendra Brodin, JD, MSW is Founder & CEO of EsquireWell, a legal well-being and professional development company providing speaking, consulting, coaching, and the online EsquireWell Academy. As a certified coach…

Creating Peace and Presence of Mind in Every Season

Blog, CatalystBy Deryck White November 29, 2022

Creating Peace and Presence of Mind in Every Season By Robin Oaks, Esq., Denise Robinson, Esq., and Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor Robin Oaks has been a licensed attorney for nearly forty years. For the past two decades her legal practice has focused exclusively on conducting independent workplace complaint investigations. As a law professor in California,…

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 26: Jennifer DiSanza

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan October 12, 2022

Jennifer DiSanza has spent the last two decades working with law students as a student affairs administrator and financial educator. She has worked at three different ABA-Approved law schools and is passionate about well-being in the legal profession. Most recently, Jennifer worked for AccessLex Institute, a non-profit dedicated to improving access to and the affordability…

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 25: Helen Wan

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan October 5, 2022

Helen Wan is an author and lawyer, and a graduate of Amherst College and The University of Virginia School of Law. Helen is the author of the novel THE PARTNER TRACK, which just launched as a new TV series on Netflix. It is the story of an Asian American woman and her law colleagues as…

Reframing Burnout

Blog, CatalystBy Deryck White August 23, 2022

Reframing Burnout Not only because it’s cited as one of the main causes of the Great Resignation, which may permanently reshape how we work, and not only because it’s widespread (can we ever use the metaphor of “epidemic” again?) across workplaces. We have to talk about burnout because we haven’t actually been talking about it this…

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 24: Kori Carew

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan August 19, 2022

Kori S. Carew, Esq., an attorney, TedX speaker, and community builder who generates awareness and understanding of critical human issues by creating the space and climate for open dialogue that is meaningful, enables people to expand their perspective and drive positive change. With grace and truth, she is a disruptor, womanist and social justice advocate.…

Is Burnout Tired and Worn Out?

Blog, CatalystBy Deryck White August 5, 2022

Tracy LaLonde, Chief Joychiever I recently attended a conference about attorney engagement and had many conversations about burnout. During one of those discussions, we pondered if the word ‘burnout’ has become overused to the extent that it is losing or has lost its impact. I certainly hope this isn’t the case. While many more people are…

Beneath, Behind, and Beyond Burnout

Blog, CatalystBy Deryck White August 5, 2022

Emily Knowles, Psychologist, Consultant and Researcher “The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.” – Lily Tomlin ‘Burnout’ and ‘psychological safety’ are arguably two of the biggest exports from workplace psychology to enter the public lexicon from the Covid-era. Burnout is a long-established and deeply…

Heartfulness: A Path to Resilience

Blog, CatalystBy Deryck White August 5, 2022

Henry Emmons, MD Catherine Duncan, MA, BCC We consider heartfulness a key quality to going beyond burnout and actually flourishing and building strong resilience. When you use heartfulness to build resilience, there is less room for something like stress and depression to seep back in. There is nothing more important in one’s lifetime than loving well. But…

How To Address Burnout In The Legal Profession

Blog, CatalystBy Deryck White August 5, 2022 1 Comment

Author: Paula Davis I burned out during what became the last year of my law practice. I have been studying burnout for more than 10 years, and I have spent many of those years talking to lawyers and legal professionals about the topic in one-to-one coaching sessions, training and workshops, interviews, and through my own…

Making Well-Being an Expectation in Attorney-Client Relationships

Blog, CatalystBy Deryck White August 5, 2022 1 Comment

Author: Ben Carpenter Ben is a Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at U.S. Bank. He leads a team of lawyers and legal professionals who provide legal support for U.S. Bank’s Consumer and Business Banking Division and is the Executive Sponsor of the U.S. Bank Law Division’s well-being program. Why is it such a…

IWIL Executive Director Announcement

BlogBy Deryck White July 8, 2022

The Institute for Well-Being in Law is pleased to announce the hiring of our inaugural executive director, Jennifer DiSanza. Jennifer spent the last two decades working with law students as a student affairs administrator and financial educator. She has worked at three different ABA-approved law schools and is passionate about well-being in the legal profession.…

Workplace Well-Being and All I Know So Far

BlogBy Deryck White June 30, 2022

Workplace Well-Being and All I Know So Far By Loretta Oleksy, Mindful Life and Work Coach, Thought Kitchen LLC July 1, 2022 It’s heartening to see more people recognizing that workplace culture is tied to employee well-being, and that promoting employee well-being is not only the right thing to do but also positively correlated with…

Episode 23 Manar Morales

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 23: Manar Morales

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan June 1, 2022

Manar Sweillam Morales is a national thought leader on women’s leadership, diversity, and workplace flexibility. She serves as President and CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance – a think tank dedicated to helping organizations create inclusive cultures that advance diversity and flexibility to attract and retain top talent. Manar is a frequent speaker on workplace flexibility, diversity and inclusion,…

Lia Dorsey - Episode 22

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 22: Lia Dorsey

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan May 18, 2022

As the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Ogletree Deakins, Lia Dorsey is responsible for the development and execution of the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy. Ms. Dorsey collaborates with firm leadership, practice group leaders, and business resource groups to expand and advance efforts in the recruitment, development, promotion and retention of diverse…

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 21: Lindsey Draper

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan May 4, 2022

Following his 2006 retirement as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court Commissioner, Lindsey D. Draper oversaw Wisconsin’s adherence to the mandates of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) as the state’s Disproportionate Minority Contact Coordinator and Compliance Monitor until his retirement in 2014. Draper previously served as Chair of the ABA then-Standing Committee on…

Terry Maroney

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 20: Terry Maroney

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan December 9, 2021

Terry Maroney is Professor of Law, Professor of Medicine, Health and Society, and the Robert S. and Theresa L. Reder Chair in Law at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She has been a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, as well as a Chancellor Faculty Fellow and Discovery…

Matthew Thiese - Episode 19

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 19: Matthew Thiese

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan September 1, 2021

My research focuses on the overlap between a person’s job and their health. This includes everything from musculoskeletal disorders like Low Back Pain or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, to motor vehicle crashes, to COVID-19, to mental well-being. I am interested in identification of potential risk factors, interventions to prevent injury or illness, evidence-based practice for both…

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 18: Janet Stearns

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan August 11, 2021

Janet Stearns started at the UM School of Law in 1999, and became Dean of Students in 2007. Stearns is immediate past chair of the AALS Student Services Section and a member of the ABA Commission on Lawyers Assistance Programs. Dean Stearns and the Miami Student Affairs Team were recognized with NALSAP’s CORE Four Award…

Jennifer Leonard - Episode 17

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 17: Jennifer Leonard

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan July 14, 2021

Jennifer Leonard L’04 is Penn Law’s Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director of the Future of the Profession Initiative (“FPI”). Jen’s work at Penn Law focuses on developing a deep understanding of what legal professionals need to be successful in the face of constant transformation. Working with a collaborative group of colleagues across the law…

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 16: Linda Sugin

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan June 30, 2021

Linda Sugin was part of the Fordham Law faculty since 1994 and moved into the associate dean for academic affairs in 2017, implementing many innovative programs focused on law student well-being.

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 15: Larry Krieger

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan June 16, 2021

Larry Krieger is a widely recognized expert on lawyer well-being. His most recent research on 6,200 lawyers identifies the specific factors that are required for attorney wellness and satisfaction. The New York Times report on this study was the most shared article in the Times for two days. Larry was founding chair of the Section…

Kyle McEntee

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 14: Kyle McEntee

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan May 20, 2021

Kyle McEntee is the executive director of Law School Transparency, a nonprofit organization he co-founded in 2009 during law school. Since that time, Kyle has emerged as a thought leader in legal education. The Role of Betting Exchanges in the UK Market When it comes to the gambling industry in the UK, betting exchanges have…

Paula Davis Episode 13

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 13: Paula Davis

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan May 5, 2021

Paula Davis JD, MAPP, is the Founder and CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute, a training and consulting firm that partners with organizations to help them reduce burnout and build resilience at the team, leader, and organizational level. Paula left her law practice after seven years and earned a master’s degree in applied positive…

Path To Well-Being In Law Steven Wall

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 12: Steven Wall

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan April 14, 2021

Steven R. Wall is a Managing Partner for Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, and a senior partner in its Labor & Employment Practice. As Managing Partner, Mr. Wall is responsible for the global firm’s practices, industry initiatives, lateral partner recruitment, and strategic business planning. Mr. Wall’s client service centers on executive and C-suite strategic…

Jeff Bunn David Jacobs

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 11: David Jacobs & Jeff Bunn

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan February 17, 2021 1 Comment

David Jacobs: David is the Chief Executive of The Wellbeing Work Alliance. He is a former practising barrister and in-house lawyer. He is also perhaps the most experienced developer of training programmes currently working in the legal industry. His expertise in creating training programmes dates back to 1987 when he devised, developed and marketed the…

Path to Lawyer Well-Being In Law Podcast Episode 10 Terry Harrell

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 10: Terry Harrell

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan January 28, 2021

Terry Harrell completed her law degree at Maurer School of Law and her Master of Social Work Degree (MSW) at Indiana University. Terry is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC) in Indiana, and has a nationally recognized Master Addictions Counselor certification from NAADAC. She has worked in a variety…

Path To Well-Being In Law Podcast Episode 9 Paul Reiber

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 9: Paul Reiber

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan January 28, 2021

Paul L. Reiber was appointed to the Vermont Supreme Court as an Associate Justice in October 2003 and Chief Justice December 2004. In 2010 he served as Chair of the Vermont Commission on Judicial Operations resulting in historic legislation that unified the state court system. He now Chairs the Vermont Justice Reinvestment II Working Group,…

Martha Knudson

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 8: Martha Knudson

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan December 30, 2020

Martha is the Executive Director of the Utah State Bar’s Well-Being Committee for the Legal Profession working with Utah’s judges, lawyers, and law students to enhance engagement, performance, resilience, and overall well-being. As part of her role, she also advises researchers at the University of Utah conducting empirical research of lawyers and law students in…

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 7: Heidi Alexander

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan December 2, 2020

In Episode 7, Bree and Chris are joined by Heidi Alexander, Massachusetts’ first Director of the Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being. Heidi was formerly the Deputy Director of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers and led the Massachusetts Law Office Management Assistance Program. She is the author of Evernote as a Law Practice Tool,…

Tim Carroll and Margaret Odgen

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 6: Tim Carroll & Margaret Odgen

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan October 28, 2020

In Episode 6, Bree and Chris begin an important trek around states taking notable leading roles in the wellness movement based on their work, innovation and programming. Catapulted by the leadership of original National Task Force on Lawyer-Well Being member Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons and his colleague Justice William C. Mims, the Commonwealth of…

Judge David Shaheed

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 5: Judge David Shaheed

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan October 7, 2020

In Episode 5, Bree and Chris look at the judge side of the equation with a recognized leader in our space and fellow member of the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being. Judge David Shaheed is a judge in the Marion Superior Court, Civil 1. He came into that position in August of 2007. Prior…

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 4: David Jaffe

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan September 23, 2020

In episode 4 of the new podcast, co-hosts Chris and Bree enjoy a lively conversation with lawyer well-being pioneer, David Jaffe. David discusses the research study he co-authored regarding law students and how that data has informed significant shifts in how law schools are addressing the well-being of their students. David Jaffe is Associate Dean of…

Patrick Krill

Path To Well-Being In Law – Episode 3: Patrick Krill

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan September 9, 2020

In episode three of the new podcast, Path to Well-Being in Law, co-hosts Chris Newbold and Bree Buchanan check in with lawyer well-being pioneer Patrick Krill. Recognized globally as a leading authority on addiction, mental health, and well-being in the legal profession, Patrick is an attorney and a licensed, board-certified alcohol and drug counselor. He…

Path To Well Being In Law – Episode 2: Anne Brafford

Path To Well Being In LawBy Bree Buchanan September 2, 2020

Bree and Chris welcome lawyer well-being pioneer Anne Brafford to the podcast, best known for her roles as author of Positive Professionals, co-chair of the ABA Law Practice Division’s Attorney Well-Being Committee, editor-in-chief and co-author of the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being’s report The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change, author…