The Well-Being Hour

The unrealistic demands put on lawyers, in an industry that already has an issue with normalizing overworking, has been exacerbated in the wake of the pandemic.

Join presenters Heidi Alexander and Danielle Hall as they discuss issues around professional culture, managing lawyer burnout, tactics to manage technology in a healthy manner and setting reasonable boundaries.

Presenters:

Heidi Alexander, Director of Lawyer Well-Being, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Danielle M. Hall, Executive Director, Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program

Moderator:

Bonnie Reddekopp, Lawyer, Saskatchewan Government Insurance & Member of the CBA Well-Being Subcommittee

With the current climate, we are seeing many young lawyers moving to alternative practice or leaving the profession altogether.  Often a driving force for these decisions comes down to issues with their well-being.

Former lawyer and new film maker, Anna Robinson shares her journey to leave the legal profession, sharing insights through her short film When We Were Younger.

Presenter:

Anna Robinson, Former Lawyer & Filmmaker, Actor and Photographer

Moderator:

Glen M. Hickerson, K.C., Wilson Laycraft & Chair, CBA Well-Being Subcommittee

Are you looking forward to retirement days or are you dreading the transition? What steps do you need to take to begin the shift, and when should you start to plan for retirement? While these questions are necessary, they can also cause a great deal of stress and anxiety.

Assistant Director and Lawyer Counsellor for the Lawyers Assistance Program of BC, Shari Pearlman, discusses the importance of maintaining one’s well-being while shifting into retirement and shares tips for making a smooth, healthy shift into transition.

Presenter: Shari Pearlman, Assistant Director, Lawyer Counsellor, Lawyers Assistance Program B.C.

Moderator: Fabien Fourmanoit, Member, CBA Well-Being Subcommittee

There is often confusion between coaching, therapy, and mentoring. While there may be some cross-over, they are different resources that support well-being and career development in different ways.

In this program, our expert panel examines the benefits of coaching for lawyers and legal professionals. Learn about gladiator mentality, the pitfalls of perfectionism, and above all, if coaching is something that would benefit your life and career at this time.

Presenters:

Karmen Masson, Lawyer, Certified Executive Coach & Founder, Your Best Practice

Sabine Neuman, Lawyer, International Certified Coach, Avocate et bien +

Moderator: Glen Hickerson Q.C., Chair, CBA Well-Being Subcommittee

Why is trauma and resilience relevant to lawyers?  Why does the impact of trauma sometimes go unnoticed? Do so-called soft skills like emotional intelligence and empathy really connect with lawyer wellbeing, or lawyer performance?  

Join presenter Helgi Maki as she answers these questions and more through the examination of the neurobiology of trauma and its effects on lawyers using the biopsychosocial model. Registrants will gain helpful tips and learn resiliency skills that they can use today to help their practice and their clients when faced with adversity.

Presenter: 
Helgi Maki, Consultant, Executive Coach & Mindfulness Instructor Generativity Co., Coaching & Consulting

Moderator: Cherie Langlois-Klawson, Member, CBA Well-Being Subcommittee

A lawyer’s mind is a vital working tool. Just as skilled carpenters and mechanics prudently take good care of their working tools, so too can lawyers. Mindfulness and meditation provide effective, time-tested techniques for doing so.

Join Joy Noonan, lawyer and meditation instructor, and Michael Apollo, mindfulness consultant and founding member of the Parliamentary Mindfulness Advisory Group, as they discuss the benefits of mindfulness and meditation for both well-being and performance in law.

Presenters:
Michael Apollo, President, Mindful Gateway Consulting; Founding Member, Parliamentary Mindfulness Advisory Group
Joy Noonan, Lawyer, Mediator, Mindfulness Facilitator - Potential Project

Moderator: David Bryan, Member, CBA Well-Being Subcommittee

The legal profession may very well be facing a state of crisis when it comes to mental health and addiction. Isolation, job dissatisfaction, and the constant pressure to be an overachiever can often lead to overall ill health, a misuse of alcohol, or problems with substance abuse. In extreme cases, these issues may threaten a lawyers’ ability to practice law.

Join Dr. Charl Els and Cherie Langlois-Klassen as they discuss the impact these issues have on the profession as well as the preventative measures that should be taken to help mitigate the risk. In addition to the video, registrants will receive the paper ‘Lawyers Health Conditions: Protecting the public, optimizing outcomes for lawyers-as-patients, and protecting the profession.’ Register today.

Presenter:
Dr. Charl Els, Psychiatrist, Addiction Specialist, MR and Occupational Physician, Alberta

Moderator: Cherie Langlois-Klassen, Member, CBA Well-Being Subcommittee

The pandemic has had some real drawbacks, but there have been a few advantages to going online.  You can access programs from around the world without the commute or need to leave the office.  

Join our panelists as they discuss how easy access to online mindfulness and yoga programs can not only help with overall wellness, but can help make you a better lawyer.

Presenters:
Deni Cashin, Retired, Daunais McKay + Harms, Yoga Instructor, ASSiST
Danica Doucette-Preville, Legal Officer, Global Affairs Canada and Yoga Instructor, ASSiST
Amanda Huxley, Associate, Parlee McLaws LLP and Mindfulness Instructor, ASSiST

Moderator: Glen Hickerson, Chair, CBA Well-Being Subcommittee

What if you could change the way you respond to stress? Think about what a personal and professional advantage that would be. Well, good news: its possible! Using tools and strategies based on principles of neuroscience, you can learn to be more resilient, connected, and focused during life’s most challenging moments. We will explore this material and more in this unique and practical presentation.  

Presenter: Jill Hewlett, Brain Fitness & Wellness Authority

Moderator: David Bryan, Member, CBA Well-Being Sub Committee

Accreditation for this Program

There is a lot of talk in legal circles these days about wellness, and there is a lot of talk about diversity and inclusion. But there isn’t much talk about how these two elements relate to each other. How does promoting inclusivity in the workplace also promote work-life balance, social connection, and satisfaction at work? How does implicit bias affect our businesses and what can we do about it? Join us for this insightful discussion to help you and your firm achieve (some really important) objectives. 

Presenters:
Antoinette Moriarty, Integrative Psychotherapist
Vivene Salmon, VP Country Compliance Manager, Global Banking & Markets Compliance, Bank of America

Moderator: Pooja Chugh, Chair, CBA Well-Being Sub Committee

Accrediation for this Program

We lawyers, like members of other helping professions, are particularly susceptible to compassion fatigue. Regular exposure to traumatic accounts from clients and the ongoing need for empathetic listening and responding can wear us down over time, as well as triggering some of our own trauma. As we look after our clients’ interests (and those of our parents, partners, pets, kids and colleagues…), who is looking after us?  This timely session will focus on how to recognize, overcome, and guard against CF, allowing you to build on your professional success as well as your personal well being.  

Presenters:
Doron Gold, The Lawyer Therapist, Homewood Health
Françoise Mathieu, Registered Psychotherapist

Moderator: Amy Bradbury, Wickwire Holm, CBA Well-Being Sub Committee

Accreditaton for this Program