Presented by:

Clifford Law Offices

Moderated by Robert A. Clifford,
Founder and Senior Partner at Clifford Law Offices

Wellness Program:

Mind, Body & Soul: Defining Well-Being in Law

Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Since the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being issued its Report & Recommendations in 2017, there has been much progress. However, a culture shift around well-being and sustained innovation still faces certain challenges.  To be a good lawyer, law student or judge, one has to be well. To achieve well-being, we have to engage in a continuous process in which we “strive to thrive” in each of the following dimensions of our lives: emotional, intellectual, occupational, physical, spiritual and social.

Our panelists discussed what constitutes well-being in each of these six components, provided some best practices that everyone can employ in their own lives and in their work or school setting, and considered where we have been and challenges we face as we move forward on this front.

Diversity & Inclusion Program:

Mind, Body & Soul of Diverse Lawyers: The Weathering Effect

Time: 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

It is coming to light that lawyers of diversity can be impacted by “the weathering effect.” This concept will be discussed in the context as to how one’s experiences and reactions as a lawyer in a diverse community are different because of one’s race, gender, ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status and other diverse factors. The weathering effect can create an erosion of professional, mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health from unconscious bias and the daily microaggressions that one of diversity is forced to endure. This can impact the way one responds to certain situations and can ultimately impact one’s outlook, health or longevity in the profession. It can make one more vulnerable or more callous in certain situations, more so and more sensitized than those who are not considered part of a minority community. It can create mental blocs. The concept of intersectionality – members of the profession falling into more than one identity group – and the toll it takes on those in figuring out how to react given the situation and the group into which one falls also can be exhausting.

This highly experienced panel openly discussed their experiences and beliefs in what is happening in this arena and offered suggestions as to how everyone can become more aware in order to improve the health of the profession.