Attorney Well-Being

Click on Upcoming Programs tab for information on the Lawyer to Lawyer Well-Being Roundtable

The well-being of attorneys is critical to the effective practice of law, the public trust, and the culture of our profession – all of which make it of paramount importance to the New York State Bar Association. Being a lawyer is personally and professionally rewarding, but it also is stressful, exhausting, and taxing. Every lawyer “knows” that taking care of ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually is important to our well-being, but manifesting that self-care in the midst of a fast-paced, relentless profession feel out of reach for many of us.

The purpose of the NYSBA Attorney Well-Being initiative is to examine the life of a lawyer from law school through retirement and beyond in order to identify resources and practices individually, socially and culturally which can assist lawyers in making self-care accessible, effective, and meaningful.

Articles, programming, and other practical resources are available to guide and inform you in achieving the Attorney Well-Being initiative. Be sure to check out past programs and make plans to attend upcoming programs, such as our L2L Well-Being Roundtable held every Thursday at 4 pm. More details on the Roundtable can be found under the Upcoming Programs tab on the left. In person programming will resume as soon as it is safe to do so, in the meantime, additional online programming is being created, so be sure to check back often.

If you have a well-being question, submit it to [email protected]. Emails are reviewed and answered regularly.

If you need more immediate assistance with a well-being concern, reach out to Stacey Whiteley, Lawyer Assistance Program Director at 518.360.2352 or by email [email protected]. All communications are confidential.

Emotional Well-Being

The Science of Stress and the Road to Attorney Well-Being
Libby Coreno and Kelly Murray O’Hara

What Makes Lawyers Happy
Libby Coreno

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

Dealing with Panic as Coronavirus Becomes the New Normal
Brandon Vogel

One Lawyer Living and Working with Depression
Daniel Lukasik

Anxiety a Slippery Slope
Diane E. O’Connell

Hank Greenberg: Lawyers and Depression

How Lawyers Can Avoid Burnout and Debilitating Anxiety

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

Physical Well-Being

Living Well in the Time of the Coronavirus
Robert Herbst

The Case for Attorney Wellness
Robert Herbst

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

Professional Well-Being

How to Work Remotely with Kids and Not Lose Your Mind
Brandon Vogel

Easing Stress While Working from Home
Brandon Vogel

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

Recovery Well-Being

Becoming an Alcoholic in Private-Living in Recovery in Public
Hon. Sarah Krauss

Never Alone: Addiction, Recovery and Community
Libby Coreno

How to Help Judges in Need of Help
Paul Curtin

Lawyer to Lawyer Well-Being Roundtable

Confidential. Free. Peer to Peer Support.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the current state of the world and the practice of law feels like it is changing minute by minute, leaving many lawyers uneasy, anxious, and unsure. If you are experiencing these feelings, you are not alone. Join other lawyers, law students and judges from across the state in a free and confidential support group being held weekly on Thursdays at 4pm via Zoom.

Each group session will be loosely organized under a theme for discussion. All participants will be given the opportunity to share if they wish, with supportive discussion to follow. This group is a support and discussion group. It is not a 12-step recovery group nor a therapeutic group. Its purpose is to discuss and share concerns, while connecting and supporting others in the profession. The L2L Roundtable is not a substitute for and should not be considered medical, psychiatric, or legal advice. It is supported by the Attorney Well-being Committee and by the Lawyer Assistance Program.

Facilitators: Libby Coreno, Chair of the Attorney Well-being Committee and Kerry O’Hara, PsyD

Click Here for Zoom

2020 Fall Well-Being Series

The programs below are one hour educational sessions open to anyone in profession. These well-being programs are co-sponsored by NYSBA and the Nassau County Bar’s LAP. Following each title is information on how to register. There is no charge for any of these programs.

October 8 @ 1:00 pm Taking Care of Your Mental Health While in Law School with Albany Law School’s Associate Dean for Student Affairs Rosemary Queenan and Professor Joseph Connors. To register and receive the Zoom link email Linda McMahon: [email protected]

October 15 @ 6:00 pm Everyday Mindfulness Techniques with Melissa Del Giudice, Founder of Yoga for Health. To register and receive the program link email Beth Eckhardt, Nassau Co LAP Director: [email protected]

October 22 @ 6:00 pm Stress Management and Reduction with Beth Eckhardt and Carolyn Reinach Wolf. To register and receive the program link email Beth Eckhardt, Nassau Co LAP Director: [email protected]

October 29 @ 6:00 pm Understanding and Reducing Stigma Surrounding Mental Health and Addiction with Jaqueline Cara, Esq., Joe Milowic, Esq., and Heather Casale, Esq. To register and receive the program link email Beth Eckhardt, Nassau Co LAP Director: [email protected]

November 5 @ 12:30 pm Healthy Body, Health Mind with Dr. Benjamin Carlow, chiropractor and personal trainer. To register and receive the program link email Beth Eckhardt, Nassau Co LAP Director: [email protected]

November 12 @ 6:00 pm Leading a Meaningful Life with Libby Coreno, Esq., Co-Chair of the Lawyer Well-Being Task Force To register and receive the program link email Beth Eckhardt, Nassau Co LAP Director: [email protected]

November 19 @ 6:00 pm Strategies to Recognize and Manage Burn Out with Dr. Kerry O’Hara, clinical psychologist. To register and receive the program link email Beth Eckhardt, Nassau Co LAP Director: [email protected]

Mindfulness for Lawyers in a Time of Stress
Learn how to use mindfulness to improve your immune system and calm your fears, while also maintaining social connections via electronics to prevent loneliness. You will also learn how to control stress and in turn improve productivity, creativity and the ability to uphold your ethical responsibilities as an attorney.

“LPM Day”: 20/20 Vision
This program focuses on important topics for solo/small firms including a segment called “Lawyer Well-Being: Ethical Considerations.”

Attorney Wellness/Substance Abuse in the Legal Profession
Thomas C. Nicotera, Esq. | Lawyer Assistance Committee | Albany
Paul W. Van Ryn, Esq. | Maxwell & Van Ryn, LLP | Albany

“LPM Day” – Hot Topics in Law Practice Management 2019
This program focuses on important topics for solo/small firms. Panelists cover what you need to know about tax changes, working remotely and complying with the NY Rules of Professional Conduct, time management and attorney wellness.

“LPM Day” – Hot Topics in Law Practice Management 2018
This program focuses on hot topics in law practice management. Panelists cover what you need to know about key considerations for protecting your firm, how to recognize alcohol and substance abuse among colleagues, attorney wellness, ESI and forensics, ethics of email, ABA Formal Opinon 477, protecting client information, and technology and billing while providing practical advice.

“LPM Day” – The Law Firm Check-Up 2017
A strategic review of your firm’s operations, current processes and procedures can identify challenges and areas for improvement. As the year comes to close, now is the perfect time to take a step back and review where you are and where you are headed. Call it your annual physical.

What Makes Lawyers Happy
Practicing law can be stressful. Unmanaged stress can lead to career dissatisfaction, mental health problems and substance abuse. Recent research based on a survey of New York Lawyers and lawyers from several other states identifies the key elements to keeping stress at bay and finding balance in lawyering. These protective elements of happy lawyering will be discussed by the panel as well as the signs and symptoms of mental health problems that sabotage health and happiness and jeopardize your ability to practice law competently.

Lawyer Assistance Program | Prevention, Intervention and the NY Rules of Professional Conduct

Lawyer Assistance Program | Prevention, Intervention and the NY Rules of Professional Conduct | What You Need to Know in New York

Please click on the links below to listen to each one individually.

Mental Health And Wellness In The Legal Profession with Hon. Karen Peters and Libby Coreno | Gold/Fox: Non-Billable

The Case For Attorney Well-being: A Profession In Change

Who Are We Anyway? Exploring The Realities and Challenges In The Culture Of Law

The Mindful Minute: Quick Tools and Tips To Add Mindfulness Techniques To Everyday Life

Staying Connected: Meaning and Purpose For The Senior Lawyer

The Physical Addiction To Stress: Fighting As A Way Of Life

Roundtable Resources

Worksheets

Circles of Control

Circles of Control (Lawyer Example)

Self-Assessment Well-Being Worksheet

Structured Journaling Questions

Eight Dimensions of Wellness

Videos

The Power of Myth
Joseph Campbell Interview Series

New York State Bar Association’s Lawyer Assistance Program
800.255.0569
Confidential assistance for law students, lawyers, and judges who are struggling with issues such as anxiety, depression, alcohol and drug use and other conditions that are creating difficulties for you or someone you care about.

COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline
844.863.9314

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.