Attorneys Find Support in Weekly Co-Working Group
2.25.2025
As part of its ongoing efforts to support attorneys, the New York State Bar Association’s Attorney Well-Being Program has launched Finding Focus, a virtual co-working group designed to improve time management and increase productivity across the legal field. Every Tuesday afternoon, legal professionals meet, connect, and share their progress.
Kim Wolf Price, chair of the Committee on Attorney Well-Being and chief strategy and diversity officer at Bond, Schoeneck and King, explained more in in a Q & A.
Tell me about Finding Focus:
The Finding Focus group takes a community-based approach to independent work. Virtual co-working became popular at the height of the pandemic when working professionals struggled to maintain workloads while both isolated and distracted at home. This concept is modeled off the psychological concept of “body doubling,” which is a productivity technique often utilized by individuals with ADHD. Like many attorneys, I did not know much about co-working or body doubling, but the benefits are interesting and positive.
Years later, many are still thriving with hybrid and remote options, but there’s no denying the seclusion that comes with it. Finding Focus was designed to bring legal professionals together to increase motivation and encourage community. Each week group members come prepared to tackle a project they’ve been working on or a small task they have been avoiding. With many consistent members, it is comforting to see familiar faces each week as a community of virtual co-workers and like-minded peers.
How did this get started?
Between the Lawyer Assistance and Attorney Well-Being Programs, NYSBA works to provide a variety of programs and services, including weekly meditation sessions, at different levels to meet the needs of legal professionals across the state. In 2024, NYSBA’s Lawyer Assistance Program hosted both a workshop and support group facilitated by Dr. Michael Appelgren, PsyD. The Attorney Well-Being Program followed up these programs with a complimentary body doubling group, which was brought back in 2025 by popular demand.
Why now?
The Attorney Well-Being Program tailors its offerings based on direct feedback from its community. There were two limited series options that both ran for six to eight weeks, but it was clear that a more consistent effort was needed. Since January, the group has been meeting every Tuesday with no intention of stopping anytime soon. Having these weekly programs offers stability that people can count on.
Why is this program important? Especially during the winter?
Many adults, regardless of an ADHD diagnosis, can benefit from body doubling. Winter can be a particularly isolating time and in the colder, darker months motivation can be difficult to muster. A virtual co-working group is a relatively accessible way to keep you on top of responsibilities while also connecting with others.
What do you hope attorneys learn from this program?
As a group with minimal structure and a simple objective, the goal is not necessarily to learn anything. Instead, Finding Focus is meant to create a safe and comfortable environment for legal professionals to concentrate on their work while connecting with others. Any additional takeaway is an extra bonus.
Have more people been coming?
A lot of people are interested in the concept, we’ve had over 300 individual registrants since the first group. We started with about eight to 10 consistent members each week but are now almost up to 20. We have the capacity for many more and all are welcome. The group is also diverse, expanding across different social demographics and all practice areas.
What kind of feedback are you getting?
Feedback has been both positive and encouraging. Members consistently express genuine gratitude for the group and look forward to seeing each other every week. Participants can finish tasks they’ve put off with ease and feel validated by the group’s encouragement. Many join the group unsure what to expect and are pleasantly surprised with how much they were able to get done, using the group for accountability.
What do you want people to know?
It is worth trying out! The group does not require a lot of engagement or energy to attend. It is a free opportunity, with no obligation to engage any further than your comfort level. If it ends up not being your cup of tea, it is easy to opt out of.
Anything else you want to say?
The Attorney Well-Being Program is tailored to the needs of our community, supporting the people within the profession through the Eight Pillars of Attorney Well-Being. The Finding Focus: Virtual Co-Working group is free and open to all legal professionals seeking to increase their focus through body doubling. We are always looking for more ideas to mitigate stress and prevent burnout in the legal field.
We encourage people to find their balance, using the Eight Pillars to set personalized goals, set effective boundaries, and practice meaningful self-care. There are plenty of resources, including a self-assessment on our webpage.
