The ABA Well-Being Pledge Campaign for legal employers was launched to ensure the long-term health and well-being of the legal profession, reduce the incidence of problematic substance use and mental health distress, and challenge the stigma surrounding these issues.
The ABA Well-Being Campaign was launched to improve the substance use and mental health landscape of the legal profession, with an emphasis on helping legal employers support healthy work environment. The primary vehicle for the Campaign is a Pledge calling upon legal employers (including law firms, corporate entities, government agencies and legal aid organizations) to first: (a) recognize that substance use and mental health problems represent a significant challenge for the legal profession and acknowledge that more can and should be done to improve the health and well-being of lawyers; and, (b) pledge to support the Campaign and work to adopt and prioritize its seven-point framework for building a better future.
During the second stage of the Campaign, a Commitment Form will be circulated annually asking participants to describe any steps taken toward the objectives set out in the framework during the previous year and recommit to the Pledge.
The new Well-Being Toolkit for Lawyers and Legal Employers offers tools and practical guidance for legal employers who want to join the lawyer well-being movement by launching organizational initiatives. Also available is the Well-Being Toolkit Nutshell: 80 Tips for Lawyer Thriving, summarizing 80 of the Toolkit’s key items to help get you started on a lawyer well-being initiative. The Toolkit was created by Anne Brafford, member of the Working Group to Advance Well-Being in the Legal Profession.
The ABA Well-Being Pledge Campaign for legal employers was launched to ensure the long-term health and well-being of the legal profession, reduce the incidence of problematic substance use and mental health distress, and challenge the stigma surrounding these issues.