Attorney Well-Being Resources

In 2017 The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change was published by the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being. The report has become the catalyst for efforts to improve the well-being of lawyers nationwide and here in Idaho.

What Is Attorney Well-Being?

The meaning of “well-being” is:

Maintaining well-being is part of lawyers’ ethical duty of competence. It calls for healthy, positive choices to assure that lawyers can be their best for their clients, families, organizations, and communities. Further, to be their best, lawyers depend on a large number of important contributors who are not lawyers. Therefore, well-being across the legal profession is an important goal.

The Task Force’s definition of well-being is not defined solely as an absence of dysfunction; nor is it limited to feeling “happy.” Full well-being is multi-dimensional and requires things like connection, belonging, continual growth, and aligning our lives with our values. It requires that we take care of all aspects of our lives.[1]

CLEs Available
ISB Fall 2020 Survey Results
Resources
ISB Attorney Well-Being Committee
Well-Being in Law Week Daily Activities
Upcoming Events

CLEs Available

Say “NO” to BURNOUT – Find Professional Fulfillment without Sacrificing, Ethical Obligations, Relationships, Mental Health, and Job Performance – $60.00 – Available On-Demand Free with Code: WELLBEING2025

Increasing Your Professional Power to New Levels of Excellence – $60.00 – Available On-Demand Free with Code: WELLBEING2025

Trauma Informed Lawyering – FREE CLE – Now Available On-Demand

The Ethical Part of Managing Your Stress – $45.00 – On-Demand Free with Code: WELLBEING2025

Attorney Well-Being: ISB Survey Results, Resources, and Next Steps – FREE CLE – Available On-Demand

Suicide Prevention In A Pandemic: Risk Factors, Warning Signs and Ways to Help – FREE CLE – Available On-Demand

Lawyer Well-Being: What’s It Got to Do with Me ? – $50.00 – On-Demand Free with Code: WELLBEING2025

ISB Fall 2020 Survey Results

Idaho Survey on Attorney Well-Being

One of the first tasks of the Attorney Well-Being Task Force was to establish a baseline assessment through out the state. The best way to accomplish this was to conduct a survey.

The survey questions were drafted by members of the Task Force using resources available from surveys conducted in other states and they also sought counsel and review of the survey by experts in the field, including the co-chair of the National Task Force. The Idaho survey consisted of three types of questions:

(1) well-being status questions;

(2) questions about knowledge of and access to well-being resources; and

(3) demographic questions.

The survey was distributed in October 2020 via email with encouragement from the Board and members of the judiciary to complete it.

The typical time spent by those taking the survey was 6 minutes and 5 seconds.

The results of the survey were tabulated and will be used by the Task Force in the development of resources that will be made available to ISB members. The Task Force anticipates these resources may include a website, educational course offerings, and social functions. Below is a link to view the survey results.

Idaho Well-Being Survey Results

Resources

Educational Courses, Toolkits and Websites

ISB Program – Attorney Well-Being: ISB Survey Results, Resources, and Next Steps – FREE CLE – 1.0 CLE credits of which 0.25 it Ethics

ISB Program – Lawyer Well-Being: What’s It Got to Do with Me? – 1.5 CLE credits

ABA Program – The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change (Oct. 16, 2017)

Well-Being in Law Institute

Mindful Mondays and Wakeful Wednesdays – Weekly 30-minute “virtual sit” sessions hosted by the Mindfulness in Law Society.

Building Workplace Well-Being

Well-Being in Law Week Resources – Information for individuals and organizations

CLEs

Suicide Prevention In A Pandemic: Risk Factors, Warning Signs and Ways to Help – Sponsored by the Idaho State Bar Attorney Well-Being Task Force, Lawyers’ Assistance Program, the Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers with funding provided by the Idaho State Liquor Division Mini-Grant Program, May 6, 2021 – 1.0 CLE credits

Articles, Blogs and Reports

Mindfulness Exercises

What Law Students Absolutely Need To Know To Ace Law School

Is Your Smartphone Making You Less Smart? Distraction Addiction Is Real

To Boost Productivity, Lawyers and Law Students Should ‘Socially Distance’ From Their Phones

Suffolk Law professor writes book tackling … um, one sec … oh distractions

Time Magazine articles on Mental Health in the Workplace
Mental Health Resources for the Legal Profession During COVID-19

The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change

Stress, drink, leave: An examination of gender-specific risk factors for mental health problems and attrition among licensed attorneys

The Wellness Issue – Journal of the Delaware State Bar Association

What Lawyers Can Learn from Simone Biles

Podcasts
Mindful Lawyering with Shailini George

What Students Absolutely Need to Do to Ace Law School with Shailini George – Episode 67

Path to Well-Being in Law Podcast

The Resilient Lawyer
Attorney Mental Health and Wellness
Loving Life as a Lawyer: How to Maintain Joy in Your Work
The Gen Why Lawyer Podcast on Mental Health
Voices of Recovery Series
The Psychology Podcast: How to Be a Happy Lawyer
ABA Asked and Answered: How Lawyers Can Bring Mindfulness Into Their Practice

**The above programming is intended for educational purposes only and may not meet the mandatory continuing legal education requirements in Idaho. You will not receive CLE credit for viewing/listening unless it has been approved. You can check to see the approved CLE courses here.

ISB Attorney Well-Being Committee

The Attorney Well-Being Committee was formed in September 2023 by the Board of Commissioners of the Idaho State Bar to improve the well-being of the legal profession in Idaho. The Committee brings various representatives from sections, committees, and practice groups together to investigate obstacles to well-being in the profession and identify resources to help attorneys, judges, law students, and related staff members not only survive but thrive in their professional and personal lives.

Please feel free to reach out to members of the Committee if you have ideas for programs or resources that would be helpful to others or if you have questions. Teresa Baker, the ISB staff liaison is also available at (208) 334-4500.

Well-Being Task Force Report – December 2022

Committee Members

Chairperson Mo Haws Nampa – 3rd & 4th District	Nichole Gabriel Boise – 4th District
Jamal Lyksett Pullman – 2nd District	Tyler Rands Twin Falls – 5th District
Hon. Juneal Kerrick Caldwell – 3rd & 4th District	Carole Wesenberg Pocatello – 6th District
Kacey Jones Meridian – 4th District	Julie Stomper Idaho Falls – 7th District

Well-Being in Law Week Daily Activities

The Idaho State Bar Attorney Well-Being Task Force invites you to celebrate Lawyer Well-Being Week, May 5th through May 9th, 2025. Join other members of the profession, the courts and support staff by participating in these free remote-friendly activities.

We will focus on a different aspect of well-being Monday through Friday. Every day you will have at least three different suggestions for activities and education. This “well- rounded” wheel shows the well-being emphasis for each day of the week. There is something for everyone!

For those looking to make long term changes to their well-being, we recommend that you try the 31 Day Mental Health Challenge. There are some impactful activities that can start any time of year!

Well-Being Wheel

WATCH THIS: Moving Together: The Science and Experience of Communal Movement Our panel of experts will delve into the science behind the power of moving with others – its positive effects on the body and mind, including motivation and positive emotion. We will also examine the social and cultural aspects of communal movement and how it fosters a sense of belonging and connectedness among participants. You’ll learn about the social and psychological benefits of group movement, including increased accountability, social support, and a sense of community.

READ THIS: Because even modest amounts of alcohol can negatively impact mental and physical health, many are choosing to drink less or not at all. In 2025, nearly half (49%) of American adults plan to drink less, and about 25% already don’t drink at all.

DO THIS: Many in the legal community are chronically sleep deprived—which can harm mental and physical health. To encourage improvement, we’ve created the 4-Week Sleep Challenge activity sheet to help your group track and reward your progress.

Exercise is the key not only to physical health but to peace of mind. – Nelson Mandela

WATCH THIS WELL-BEING WEEK SESSION: Practicing Spiritual Well-Being: Voices From the Legal Profession

WATCH THIS: Fonda Jovick (2023), Say “NO” to BURNOUT – Find Professional Fulfillment without Sacrificing, Ethical Obligations, Relationships, Mental Health, and Job Performance – Free with Code: WELLBEING2025 – 1.0 CLE credits. In today’s practice of law, actively prioritizing well-being for you and your employees is essential to maintain high performance professionally and personally. This program will help lawyers protect themselves from burnout and related mental health concerns that can impact ethical obligations, while also giving insight into methods to maximize productivity and implement sustainable, positive change in their law practice and personal life.

READ THIS: Resources to guide team values activities are available from Indeed’s website—including How to Create Team Values and 12 Values Exercises for Teams. Individuals interested in prioritizing intrinsic values can refer to the Aligning With Your Values Activity Guide.

DO THIS: Pick a new contemplative practice to experiment with today or focus on deepening a practice you’ve already adopted. For ideas to try, download the free Contemplative Practices Guide.

The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. – Pablo Picasso

WATCH THIS: Jerry Teplitz (2023), Increasing Your Professional Power to New Levels of Excellence – Free with Code: WELLBEING2025 – 1.5 CLE Ethics credits. An attorney’s well-being affects competency, productivity and effectiveness with your clients and colleagues. Dr. Jerry V. Teplitz shows you how to improve your mental well-being through actual tools and techniques that increase your energy level with immediate, effective and easy methods that can be applied to all aspects of your life.

READ THIS: (2024) Less Smartphone and More Physical activity for a Better Work Satisfaction, Motivation, Work-life Balance, and Mental Health: an Experimental Intervention Study.

DO THIS: To get started on a new strength-spotting habit, download the Strengths-Spotting Worksheet. Also included are worksheets to identify your own strengths and use them more and in new ways at work. Consider sharing the worksheets with colleagues and working toward strengths-spotting as a new team norm.

“Passion for your work is a little bit of discovery, followed by a lot of development, and
then a lifetime of deepening.” – Angela Duckworth, psychologist and author of Grit

WATCH THIS: Lee Flinn and Wendy Young (2021), Suicide Prevention In A Pandemic: Risk Factors, Warning Signs and Ways to Help – FREE – CLE 1.0 CLE credit of which 0.5 is Ethics. Join Lee Flinn and Wendy Young of the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline as they discuss suicide prevention and signs to look for from your clients, co-workers, family and friends especially in the new remote-working context.

READ THIS: A new study (summarized by Greater Good Magazine) has identified a mental habit that can improve our resilience: Reframing our discomfort as a sign of growth.

DO THIS: Take a few moments today to show others that they matter, are valued, and belong. We suggest sending 3 notes of appreciation to colleagues, clients, friends, or family members. To make it easy, you can use IWIL’s free e-message tool: Go to Gratitude E-Messages.

“That which isn’t good for the hive, isn’t good for the bee.” – Marcus Aurelius

WATCH THIS: Bree Buchanan (2020). Lawyer Well-Being: What’s It Got to Do with Me ? – Free with Code: WELLBEING2025 – 1.5 CLE credits. Ms. Bree Buchanan, co-chair of the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being, provides an overview of the national lawyer well-being movement, how it is intrinsically linked to our ethical responsibility to provide competent representation and strategies for tending to one’s own well-being even in the midst of the busy life of a lawyer.

READ THIS: Do you feel like you don’t have enough time to volunteer? This is a common obstacle. What you may find, however, is that spending time on other people actually increases your subjective experience of time.

DO THIS: We can’t fully show up for others as we’d like when we’re not mentally well. Today, take some time to do a mental health check-in with yourself. You can start by taking a brief mental health self-assessment. Use a mental health checklist to evaluate any areas of risk for you and make a plan to take action. Mental Health America Mental Health Tests

“Let’s not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and
we obey them without realizing it.” -Vincent van Gogh

Upcoming Events

There are not any events currently planned, but please check out the activities for Well-Being in Law Week that can be done year-round.

Mark your calendar for May 5th through 9th, 2025 when we will be celebrating the next Well-Being in Law Week.

[1] Institute For Well-Being In Law, The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change(August 15, 2017), https://lawyerwellbeing.net/the-report/