NYSBA Well-Being Program To Help Lawyers Avoid Burnout and Jumpstart Their Careers
7.10.2025
Burnout is one of those trending words that comes up often when discussing professional wellness. Many lawyers experience burnout due to high stress and the demands of the legal field. Compounding that, the exposure to the trauma of clients can lead to depression and substance use. It’s a similar phenomenon to what is experienced by social workers, first responders, nurses and doctors.
The New York State Bar Association’s Attorney Well-Being Program began focusing on burnout and other mental health issues back in 2020. Its Task Force report, approved in 2021, highlighted burnout as a significant precursor to serious mental health issues and substance misuse. The report was a call to action to change the work culture in law and to fight the stigma of seeking help.
“We must move from striving alone to thriving together if we are to survive the present challenges. We must move beyond blame and shame and, instead, shift our gaze to holistic solutions and better outcomes for ourselves and our colleagues,” the report stated.
In continuing that mission, the New York State Bar Association is offering new programs this summer to address how to prevent burnout. An upcoming webinar, “How to Avoid Burnout: 7 Steps to Lighten Your Plate & Reinvigorate Your Career,” will provide practical strategies for improving lawyers’ home and work lives. The free one-hour program on July 30 is sponsored by the NYSBA’s Attorney Well-Being Program.
Julie Shore, career coach and certified consultant, has been working with small law firms for a decade. She focuses on strengths-based career development and time management for the busy law professional.
During the interactive part of the program, Shore challenges participants to consider what is within their control to change. She asks that they think about questions such as how to make a better environment for themselves, their clients and their employees. Shore encourages participants to take a hard look at their work life and realize that “life is too short to be miserable at work.”
To start, Shore uses an actual plate to display work responsibilities on one side and home life on the other, asking which activities require your presence and which do not.
This exercise is the first of the seven steps Shore uses to beat back burnout. Others include identifying one person you need to talk with to improve your life and crafting a vision for your career.
In addition, the Building Balance: Self-Care Group is a new drop-in peer group that encourages community connection through self-care. This monthly group is centered on building balance for burnout prevention. Each session will pose a general topic with a group check-in, but this virtual setting is meant for open community discussion. The online group is free and accessible to legal professionals, and it is intended to be a safe, non-judgmental space for all. The overall mission is to share resources, troubleshoot obstacles, and connect.
If you have struggled with the feeling of dread on a Sunday night getting ready for the workweek or you hear that inner voice telling you it’s time for change, these programs are for you. It is one of several offered by the New York State Bar Association’s Attorney-Well Being Program. From substance use and crisis help to stress relief and career development, the Attorney-Well Being Program has information that can meet your health and well-being needs.
