Trial Magazine

Wellness

During the pandemic, as new attorneys worked to balance their professional and personal lives, the NLD Executive Committee saw the need for a new Mental Health Committee. Formed in 2020, this committee holds programs that address wellness needs within the legal community. NLD Chair Jared Smith explained that the committee “aids members in balancing the uniquely challenging life stressors they often face while providing a safe space to discuss these challenges with attorneys in similar situations.”

“Many of our members are at a very challenging time in their lives—some are opening new firms or trying to advance their careers; many are getting married, starting families, and discovering who they truly are as individuals and attorneys,” Smith said. He added that “the constant push and pull between professional and family life, coupled with rapid and significant life changes, can cause immense stress on new lawyers. If unaddressed, this stress can negatively impact our entire lives, making it more difficult for us to be the champions for justice that our clients deserve.”

The committee began by zeroing in on new attorneys’ immediate pandemic-related wellness needs by hosting a series of weekly wellness workshops focused on yoga, nutrition, mindfulness, and more. It has since broadened its efforts, hosting a presentation on “Untangling Fear in Lawyering” with Professor Heidi Brown, a roundtable on “The Healthy Remote Lawyer,” and a training on how to “Rewire Your Brain for Success” with Kevin de la Motte and Siria Gutierrez. Most recently, AAJ Past President Lisa Blue, a licensed psychologist, presented at a seminar on “Social and Emotional Intelligence for Young Lawyers.” Since April 2020, Blue has also hosted a guided visual meditation on Mondays at 11am EST.

This month, the committee will host a program focused on identifying and addressing mental health issues in both colleagues and clients. To sign up or access recorded past presentations, email membership@justice.org.

Professional Development

Also created in 2020, the Professional Development Committee came about after young attorneys struggled to network and advance their careers during the pandemic. The committee holds quarterly programming to educate NLD members and help them flourish professionally.

The committee has hosted several AAJ Press^® book authors, such as Mark Kosieradzki for presentations on deposition obstruction and how to best present your case, AAJ Past President Mark Mandell for a roundtable on case framing, and Katherine James for a presentation on telling witnesses’ stories. The committee also has held a roundtable on the moral truth of a case featuring AAJ member Rick Friedman, as well as roundtables on starting a firm, marketing and branding yourself and your firm, and breaking into a new practice area. Most recently, it hosted a panel on practicing law as a parent or caregiver.

All regular members barred less than 10 years or under 35 years old are automatically members of the NLD. To get involved with NLD initiatives, join the list server by emailing membership@justice.org or visit https://www.justice.org/community/caucuses/new-lawyers-division.