Law Needs Well-Being Because...
The Law Needs Well-Being Because... Campaign is a national photo campaign inviting legal professionals from all over the country to reflect on why well-being is important for our profession. It is an initiative led by the Mental Health & Awareness Committee of the CBA Young Lawyers Section.
The aim of the campaign is to normalize conversations about mental health and inspire lawyers, articled clerks and law students to take good care of themselves. This photo campaign draws inspiration from two successful previous campaigns: a campaign run by law students at McGill Law (“Law needs feminism because…”) as well as a well-being campaign undertaken at the CBA’s Midwinter Meeting in 2018 in New Brunswick. You can take a look at their campaign photos.
Originally titled the Law Needs Wellness Because..., the campaign had its official launch during Mental Illness Awareness Week in October 2019, ran again in October 2020, and will take place this year from October 3-9, 2021.
Get involved!
- Tell your network why Law Needs Well-Being! Post your own photo/message on your social media pages during the campaign week (Oct. 3-9, 2021)
- Make sure to:
- Tag the CBA
- Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn: @CanadianBarAssociation
- Twitter: @CBA_news
- Use the hashtag #LawNeedsWellBeingBecause
- If applicable for you, use the CBA Young Lawyers Section general hashtag #cbayounglawyers and the Section’s Branch specific hashtags too
- Follow the #LawNeedsWellBeingBecause hashtag on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and retweet, retweet, retweet and share, share, share!
If you have any other suggestions that can assist us in promoting this important initiative or if you would like to discuss the Law Needs Well-Being Because… Campaign with us in more detail, please reach out to our Committee directly with your comments or suggestions!
Hear from the young lawyers behind this initiative
“Too many lawyers think they are alone in their struggles with mental health & addictions. It is time for the legal community to come together and collectively send a message; it is okay to struggle with your mental health. Asking for help is a strong and bold move, not a weak and vulnerable one. Wellness is not a personal flaw, but rather a key to our professional success. I am inspired by the outpouring of support this Campaign has received, and I am confident that together, young lawyers will lead the way toward a more inclusive and supportive legal profession.”
- Candice Ashley Pollack, Fredericton, NB
“As lawyers, we are "helpers" - we help our clients navigate through complex problems. We can be a source of knowledge, and maybe even hope. However, this doesn't immunize us from having troubles of our own, and the simple need to remember to take care of ourselves. The LNWB Campaign sends the message that in order to help others, we first need to help ourselves. Even in light of a packed docket, we can only do that by making wellness a priority. In turn, a healthy legal mind gives me the space and energy to grow into the best advocate for others I can be. I'm sure the same can be said for my professional peers. I believe the LNWB Campaign is a reminder that it's okay to talk about mental health and wellness, and as helpers, we are a priority, too.”
- Julie Daet, Ottawa, ON
“Mental health is such an important part of life; it is pervasive in that it affects all areas of an individual’s work, home and social life. We have all either been affected, or known someone who has been affected, by a mental health issue. These individuals formed the impetus behind my wanting to assist with the CBA National “Law needs wellness because …” Campaign. It is my hope that this campaign acts as a reminder that no one has to do this alone.”
- Alexandria Smith-Doughty, Fredericton, NB
"The Law Needs Wellness Because campaign is an opportunity to start a conversation. In my mind, it’s a very important conversation. In order to see change in our profession, it’s a conversation that needs to be normalized. Our mental health is something we engage with daily in one way or another, but for many reasons we talk about it sparingly and cautiously.
I was inspired to work on this campaign, because I want our profession to make wellness a priority. I want lawyers to be resilient and to support one another. Professionally and personally, we are all better for it.”
- Val Lucas, Vancouver, BC