Along with the rewards and fulfillment that come from working in public defense comes an emotional and physical toll. Next week join us and many others in the public defense community to focus specifically on well-being. Take special care of yourself, your clients, your colleagues and loved ones. To align with Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Well-Being Week in Law (WWIL) occurs annually the first full week of May. This year WWIL takes place May 2-6. We invite you to coordinate or participate in local activities, whether you're an individual, defender office, or other organization or consultant involved in the legal profession.

 

 

What's The Purpose of WWIL?
The aim of WWIL is to raise awareness about mental health and encourage action and innovation across the profession to improve well-being.

Well-Being is an Institution-Wide Responsibility
When our professional and organizational cultures support our well-being, we are better able to make good choices that allow us to thrive and be our best for our clients, colleagues, organizations, families, and communities. It is up to all of us to cultivate new professional norms and cultures that enable and encourage well-being. Do your part and help spread the word.

Training Division Offerings
Consider dedicating each day of WWIL to one aspect of well-being.

Monday: Stay Strong: physical well-being. Listen to a podcast on the joy of movement, read an article about reframing self-care, and try a new physical activity: https://lawyerwellbeing.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/1-Monday.pdf

Tuesday: Align: spiritual well-being. Tune into this TED talk, set some spiritual goals, and cultivate your sense of purpose: https://lawyerwellbeing.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2-Tuesday.pdf

Wednesday: Engage & Grow: occupational and intellectual well-being. Listen and learn how to be happier at work, read about positive psychology, and take a workplace profile assessment: https://lawyerwellbeing.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/3-Wednesday.pdf

Thursday: Connect: social well-being. Consider this inspiring TEDx talk, read about strengthening relationships, and become a joy multiplier: https://lawyerwellbeing.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/4-Thursday.pdf

Friday: Feel Well: emotional well-being. Absorb this podcast on the amazing impact of self-talk, read about behavioral activation, and vanquish languishing: https://lawyerwellbeing.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/5-Friday.pdf

The Training Division offers the following videos that you can view on your own or arrange to view as a group or office wide. All are accessible on fd.org under Program Materials and Videos (access using your password):

  • Managing Your Time, Maintaining Your Boundaries (12/2021)
  • In the Pursuit of Calm: Stress Management for Weathering the Storms of Indigent Defense and a Post-Covid Work/Personal Life (9/2021)
  • Strategic Self Care Techniques To Battle Stress, Exhaustion and Burnout In and Out of the Workplace (1/2021)
  • Wellness for All in Public Defense (12/2020)
  • Attorney Wellness During the Pandemic (5/2020)

 

Please visit our Sustainability and Wellness Resources page, available to all: