Why this Course?

Mental health and well-being have emerged as key priorities for the legal profession, both in the United States and globally, and for good reason. As a society we are experiencing record levels of depression, addiction, loneliness, and suicide, in addition to widespread and persistent anxiety and burnout. For many white-collar workers, a heavy workload, stressful job, and long hours top the list of obstacles they say are getting in the way of improving their well-being. As a result, 60% percent of employees, 64% of managers, and 75% of C-suite leaders say they are seriously considering quitting for a job that would better support their well-being. Not surprisingly, nearly 70 percent of workers who report decreased mental health also report decreased levels of engagement.

In the legal profession, where mental health and substance use problems have historically outpaced the general population by a notable margin, challenges continue to mount for both lawyers and other professionals, with all available data suggesting that our collective well-being is moving in the wrong direction and that disengagement is a huge problem. Now, as we look ahead to 2024 and beyond, we find no shortage of looming stressors and ongoing problems that continue to threaten our mental health and diminish our well-being, all of which results in increased risk and reduced performance in legal work environments.

To counter the problematic trends around mental health and well-being in their own organizations, law firms and legal departments need well-trained team members and leaders who have developed comfort and competence with the subject matter. That is where the Legal Well-Being Blueprint can play a pivotal role, by expertly equipping legal professionals to more effectively facilitate and champion internal efforts and organizational initiatives to improve mental health and well-being.