Family Law Attorney Wellness (FLAW) Initiative
By As your new Chairperson of the Family Law Section, it is my distinct pleasure to unveil an initiative that is close to my heart and crucial to our collective well-being. I am calling it the Family Law Attorney Wellness (FLAW) initiative.
In our demanding field, we are often so focused on the needs of our clients that we may neglect our own health and well-being. This is a FLAW. The intense emotional and intellectual demands of family law can lead to significant stress, burnout, addiction, and other mental health challenges. This is a FLAW. According to a study by the American Bar Association, 28% of practicing attorneys struggle with depression and more than 50% report having experienced burnout. This is a FLAW. It is time that we acknowledge and address these issues head-on, fostering a culture that supports the well-being of every attorney in our community. We are going to reclaim the FLAW and make it work for us.
The Family Law Attorney Wellness Initiative or FLAW is designed to provide comprehensive support, resources, and programs tailored to meet the unique needs of family law practitioners. Here’s what you can expect from this initiative:
- Compliment Crack. Family Law attorneys often have a reputation for being adversarial, litigious, and rude. I won’t take a position here on whether or not that reputation is well-deserved. But I will say that no one enjoys being constantly embroiled in conflict. No one thrives in constant negative interactions. No one feels better after an encounter in which a client or colleague was rude. Conversely, research has shown that compliments increase happiness in both the person receiving the compliment as well as the person giving it. We need to do better with building each other up, showing our appreciation, and expressing our gratitude. Compliment crack is an intentional period of time in the beginning of each Council meeting during which we will be nice to each other. It will be an opportunity for you to acknowledge a specific colleague (whether he/she/they is present or not) and offer a compliment. Our secretary will record these compliments, and they will be posted so anyone unable to attend can still receive their praise. We are going to practice recognizing and acknowledging the positive attributes of our colleagues and ourselves, and it’s going to get addictive! (If you’re not a Compliment Crackhead, then show up 10 minutes past the start time of any given meeting, or better yet, just sit through it anyway and see if your mind changes the first time a colleague compliments YOU).
- Wellness Survey. We will circulate a survey to better understand the struggles and challenges that we all face and share in our lives and careers. We will utilize data from that survey to continue to develop programs and initiatives that address our needs. Please complete the survey when it comes.
- Live Content Sessions. We will offer four (quarterly) sessions in which an expert in the field will lead a live group call and offer practical strategies for managing the unique pressures and challenges of our work. These calls will contain exercises and assessments that are designed to help individual practitioners establish a starting point, translate learned skills into action, and track their progress. These sessions will be free to attend. We are working on the details, but our hope is that CLE credit will be offered for attendance.
- Video Resource Library. Our initiative will include the establishment of a resource library with recorded materials focused on attorney wellness. Our goal is to provide at least three hours of recorded material by the end of this year. This library will be updated with the latest research and best practices in maintaining your health as a family law practitioner. It will (ideally) include the ability of our fellow community members to contribute articles and resources that they have found helpful in the management of their own wellness. In this way, we can support one another as colleagues and as people.
I firmly believe that by prioritizing our well-being, we can better serve our clients, maintain the highest standards of our profession, and lead fulfilling and balanced lives. I invite each of you to engage with this initiative, participate in the programs offered, and support one another in this journey toward wellness. Together, we can build a healthier, happier, and more resilient legal community.