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For more, visit the Committee on Attorney Well-Being

The New York State Bar Association established an Attorney Well-Being Program in 2022, housed within the Lawyer Assistance Department. This program was in direct response to the 2021 Report and Recommendations from the Task Force on Attorney Well-Being. The mission, driven by dedicated volunteers of the Standing Committee on Attorney Well-Being. This program utilizes an Eight Pillars model intended to provide stress management techniques and burnout prevention tools to all legal professionals. These Eight Pillars take a wholistic approach, supporting the people within the profession to create more sustainable careers. The New York State Bar Association recognizes that change in the legal culture comes not from the individuals alone, but as a collective. With six subcommittees, designed to address wellness in the profession from all perspectives, this strategic planning report has thoughtfully summarized recommendations from the Task Force and turned them in to long-term, implementation.

 

2024 – November – Report and Recommendations of the Committee on Attorney Well-Being

If you have a well-being question, contact Well-Being Program Manager Jennifer Clayton, jclayton@nysba.org or 518.487.5573. All communications are confidential.

Additional resources regarding attorney well-being can be found on the Practice Resources page.

The New York Bar Foundation

All content from the Attorney Well-Being Program is made possible in part by a grant from The New York Bar Foundation.

The Eight Pillars of Attorney Well-Being

The Attorney Well-Being Program follows an Eight Pillars model to approach a balanced view of wellness from a holistic perspective. If you are unsure where to start, where you’re at, or where you’re going, this assessment may offer an opportunity for self-reflection.

Eight Pillars of Attorney Well-Being Self-Assessment: Checking-in

Emotional Wellness

Why Burnout Is So Pertinent in Lawyers…and How To Recognize It
Brandon Vogel

Lawyers Who Accept War-like Personas Carry Heavy Burden
Robert Goldman

What Makes Lawyers Happy
Libby Coreno

One Lawyer Living and Working with Depression
Daniel Lukasik

Anxiety a Slippery Slope
Diane E. O’Connell

Vicarious Trauma is Real
Brandon Vogel

How a Lunch Between Dear Friends Led to a Movement to Change the Legal Culture
Dr. Kerry O’Hara

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues: This is Us
Hon. Karen Peters

How to Help Judges in Need of Help
Paul Curtin

Physical Wellness

Let’s Get Physical: Get Moving for Attorney Well-Being
Robert Herbst

Go To Bed: The ethics of Exhausted Lawyering
John Marsella

Season’s Wellness
Robert Herbst

Attorney Wellness in a Nutshell
Robert Herbst

How the Profession I Love Took a Toll On My Health
Scott Karson

Occupational Wellness

Top 7 Tips to Better Manage a Legal Practice
Clio

Finding a Healthy Way to Transform Our Lives as We Retire
Stephen P. Gallagher

Legal Culture Must Change for Attorneys to Thrive
Kathleen Fyfe

Finding a Health Way to Transform Our Lives as We Retire
Stephen P. Gallagher

Financial Wellness

Intellectual Wellness

Spiritual Wellness

Environmental Wellness

Social Wellness

Helping Working Parents Keep Their Lives in Balance
Rebecca Melnitsky

AWB Resources

To access the library of AWB resources, click the link below:

AWB Resources
  • Finding Focus: A Weekly Co-working Series
    • Free, Drop-in Group | A weekly community-based approach to independent productivity.
    • Tuesdays each week from 2pm-4pm
  • Building Balance: A Monthly Self-Care Series
    • Free, Drop-in Group | A monthly check-in for peer support on navigating the obstacles to finding balance.
    • Wednesdays once a month from 12pm-1pm
  • Creating Calm with Emotional Freedom Techniques: A Bi-weekly Somatic Healing Series
    • Free, Drop-in Group | A bi-weekly, tapping session facilitated by Dr. Michelle Thompson from Resistant Vision.
    • Thursdays every other week from 1pm-2pm
  • Mindful Moments: A Weekly Meditation Series
    • Free, Drop-in Group | A weekly, group meditation facilitated by members of the Committee on Attorney Well-Being.
    • Fridays every week from 1:30pm-2:00pm

Check out the NYSBA Events Calendar for registration links to individual sessions or email the Attorney Well-Being Program Manager for Direct Access: Jennifer Clayton jclayton@nysba.org

NYSBA’s Lawyer Assistance Program

Accessible 24/7 through our confidential hotline: (877) 772-8835

The LAP Hotline is a free confidential service provided to members who are seeking assistance with challenges such as depression, anxiety, burnout, alcohol or drug related concerns, and other mental health issues. When a caller contacts the hotline, a trained mental health professional answers the call and provides immediate support. For NYSBA members, a referral to a professional counselor will be provided. The caller can receive up to four free counseling sessions a year. All communications with the LAP Hotline staff are strictly confidential.

For questions, or to speak with someone from the Lawyer Assistance Program directly, please contact the director, Stacey Whiteley at 518.487.5688

Additional Support

ABA’s Attorney Well-Being Committee
Resources, education and leadership on well-being topics.

ABA’s Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs
Hotlines, resources, publications and events related to substance use and emotional health issues.