Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush staunchly supports and promotes well-being in the legal profession. When she talks to Indiana judges, lawyers and law students, Rush frequently mentions the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program. During her State of the Judiciary speech in January, the first topic Rush mentioned was Indiana’s problem-solving courts, which focus on issues including drugs and mental health.
The support of family and friends for students in law school is not only common for most law students, but also necessary. Law professors and counselors say students need a supportive network to rely on inside and outside of law school to help them master the material, tamp down any discouragement or despair and ultimately become successful attorneys with good mental health.
When my colleagues first expressed a vision for healthier lawyers — not merely helping those already struggling with addiction and mental health diagnoses, but helping all lawyers to thrive — some laughed. Someone even suggested to me that the title for a presentation I was giving should be “Is Lawyer Well-Being an Oxymoron?”
Lawyers are fixers. We fix things other people have messed up. So, obviously, we like to project a persona that is not in need of fixing. We hold ourselves to a high standard to get new clients, bill more hours, finish an opinion, bring that next charge, defend the next client … always perfectly. And that’s the crux. Because, of course, we are not perfect. But that desire to be so affects our wellness and can lead to substance use disorder, anxiety, depression and grief.
Recognizing a need to increase its engagement with younger attorneys, the Indiana State Bar Association last year launched two initiatives that the bar and participants say are showing promising results — a law school outreach effort and an emphasis on programming on a “living life as a lawyer” track.
When the federal district court in Washington, D.C., ruled in a dispute over the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), Indiana State Bar Association president Todd Spurgeon heard the screech of a locomotive coming to sudden stop.
A novel new health insurance program is touted by the Indiana State Bar Association as providing better coverage at lower cost, particularly for solo practitioners and small law firms.
A partner at a major Indianapolis law firm received unexpected news that forever changed her life. She discovered mindfulness practice and now helps countless attorneys realize how they can improve their own lives and practices.
Individuals stressed about the nearing holidays got a bit of a breather last week when life coach and yoga instructor Lori Bisser led IndyBar lawyers in the practice of meditation and mindfulness.
Lying down, surrounded by empty wine bottles and dozens of strewn Xanax, Brian Cuban opened his eyes and had no idea where he was. It was then he realized he had a problem.
Legal employers interested in helping colleagues impaired by issues such as substance abuse, depression or cognitive degeneration now have a versatile toolkit they can customize to meet the needs of their attorney and the organization.
It was supposed to be a routine mammogram, just something Mary Foley Panszi had to do. But when she received a breast cancer diagnosis, her life and career changed.
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has commended the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s officer safety and wellness program.
the Indiana State Bar Association Leadership Development Academy Class IV strives to promote and educate our colleagues on attorney wellness through a CLE, which will be presented during the ISBA annual meeting at the French Lick Resort Oct. 7-9.
One of the main questions Sharon McGoff is asked as a wellness coach is, “How do I find balance in my life between work and home?”
As a young lawyer, I had a recurring dream in which I had moved to a remote mountain cabin, deep in a wooded forest, with majestic mountains in my backyard and a waterfall that fed into a crystal clear lake in my front yard. I awoke each day to the sunrise, fresh mountain air and the energy of the calm environment. There were no phones, computers, demanding clients, irritated family members, traffic or boring social commitments. No stress. I felt relaxed, at peace and calm, thinking about this wonderful life.
Each year, as Jan. 1 approaches and we gaze in the mirror at the after effects of the holidays … dark circles under our eyes, too many cookies and an over-abundance of cocktail parties, we set our sights on resolutions. We vow that “this time” we are going to do it! However, the statistics show that over 80 percent of us who set New Year’s resolutions will fail.
The Indiana State Bar Association and the Indiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program focus on wellness in a new workplace survival guide.
Sharon McGoff writes about why our bodies need vacations and how to take one.