CLE
Jill Carnell
Jill Carnell Thought Kitchen, LLC
Loretta Oleksy
Loretta Oleksy Thought Kitchen, LLC
What’s on Your Well-Being Menu?
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Overview AI Webinar Summary
What’s on Your Well-Being Menu?

Over the past 10 years, conversations about health and well-being in the legal profession have become increasingly common, often focusing on the disproportionately high rates of depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicide across the lifespan of those serving in the legal profession — law students, lawyers, and judicial officers. New research is released on a regular basis showing that each cohort is continuing to suffer, often in silence.

Those are the facts, but they aren’t the whole story. The reality is that we all have a role in how the story unfolds. In fact, The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change, published in 2017 by the National Task Force for Lawyer Well-Being (now the Institute for Well-Being in Law), created an outline for us to fill in. The report identified six dimensions of well-being and steps that individuals and organizations can take to promote and support well-being across those dimensions. We’ve added a seventh dimension — environmental — to the model we use at Thought Kitchen.

This session will begin with an overview of the research about lawyer, law student, and judicial officer well-being, and the dimensions of well-being as set forth in The Path to Lawyer Well-Being. Then, there will be facilitated discussion about each dimension of well-being, including the following inquiries:

  1. What does each dimension of well-being look like for you?
  2. What gets in the way?
  3. What does support look like?

Participants will leave with an increased ability to:

  1. Acknowledge the serious challenges to the well-being of lawyers, law students, and judicial officers and recognize the impact those challenges have on professional conduct
  2. Identify the dimensions of well-being and specific practices to support each dimension
  3. Consider the ways in which each of us can impact the culture of the legal profession to support and promote well-being

Topics covered include:
Attorney Wellness Law Practice Legal Ethics
Agenda:
  • Overview of Research and the Dimensions of Well-Being
    • Research on lawyer and judicial officer well-being
    • Defining well-being
    • Introduction to the seven dimensions of well-being

  • Facilitated Discussion of Each of the Dimensions of Well-Being
    • Emotional
    • Social
    • Physical
    • Environmental
    • Spiritual
    • Intellectual
    • Occupational
    • Building your well-being menu
      • What does each dimension of well-being look like for you?
      • What gets in the way?
      • What does support look like?

  • Questions & Answers (as time permits)
Duration of this webinar: 60 minutes
Originally broadcast: June 04, 2025 9:00 AM PT
Webinar Highlights

This webinar is divided into section summaries, which you can scan for key points and then dive into the sections that interest you the most.

Introduction
Jill Carnell and Loretta Olesky will discuss wellbeing in the legal profession. Jill Carnell is an entrepreneur with a background in law and organizational leadership. Loretta Olesky is a lawyer and social worker focused on wellbeing in the legal profession. The speakers will cover research on legal professional wellbeing, define wellbeing, and discuss its seven dimensions.
Research on Legal Wellbeing
The evolution of wellbeing research in the legal profession is discussed, starting with surveys in 2014 and 2016. The ABA and Hazelden Betty Ford conducted studies on lawyer wellbeing, leading to the 2017 report 'The Path to Lawyer Wellbeing.' The Institute for Wellbeing in Law (I Will) emerged from the task force commission to continue the work initiated in the 2017 report. A 2020 report on stress and resiliency in the U.S. judiciary was released, with data collected before COVID-19. The 'Stress Drink Leave' study in 2021 highlighted connections between stress, alcohol use, and leaving the profession. There's been a global movement in wellbeing research, with studies conducted in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Dimensions of Wellbeing
The 2017 report identified six dimensions of wellbeing, with environmental wellbeing added by the speakers. Wellbeing is defined as thriving, not just the absence of illness, and is a continual process of seeking to thrive in each dimension. The speakers use a kitchen metaphor to discuss wellbeing, encouraging participants to create their own wellbeing menu. Environmental wellbeing includes connection with nature, comfortable surroundings, and protection from environmental hazards. Participants are invited to share what feeds their environmental wellbeing through an anonymous poll.
Physical and Social Wellbeing
The speakers discuss physical wellbeing, emphasizing hydration, nutrition, sleep, and movement as key components. Physical wellbeing can be achieved through various activities, from gym workouts to walking dogs or engaging in water aerobics. A speaker shares her personal experience with chronic migraines and how she adapts her physical activities accordingly. Social wellbeing involves connecting with friends, family, and community, and can include alone time for introverts. Animals can also contribute to social wellbeing, providing companionship and support.
Emotional and Occupational Wellbeing
Emotional wellbeing involves accessing and expressing a wide range of emotions and setting boundaries. It's important to acknowledge emotions rather than suppressing them. Therapy and support from friends and family can bolster emotional wellbeing. Occupational wellbeing involves aligning work with strengths and values, integrating work and leisure, and financial stability. The VIA Character Strength Survey is recommended to identify and leverage personal strengths.
Intellectual and Spiritual Wellbeing
Intellectual wellbeing is about engaging curiosity and creativity, pursuing interests outside of work. A speaker shares her personal experiences with creative outlets like baking and gardening. Spiritual wellbeing involves connecting with something greater than oneself, such as nature or a faith community. Experiencing awe and living one's values are key aspects of spiritual wellbeing.
Practical Wellbeing Strategies
The webinar provides strategies for recognizing and addressing imbalances in occupational wellbeing. It emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and seeking support from colleagues. Practical steps for improving emotional wellbeing include therapy and mindfulness-based practices. The speakers recommend lawyer assistance programs for confidential peer support. Creating a personalized wellbeing menu involves setting intentions and making small, consistent changes.

Please note this AI-generated summary provides a general overview of the webinar but may not capture all details, nuances, or the exact words of the speaker. For complete accuracy, please refer to the original webinar recording.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

*CLE credit is only available to Justia Connect Pros. Not a Pro? Upgrade today>>

California CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Wellness Competence

Earn Credit Until: June 30, 2026

South Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Substance Abuse/Mental Health

Difficulty: All Levels

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2025

North Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Professional Well-Being

Earn Credit Until: February 28, 2026

Texas CLE

Status: Pending

Credits: TBD

Earn Credit Until: TBD


This presentation is approved for one hour of Wellness Competence CLE credit in California, one hour of Substance Abuse/Mental Health CLE credit in South Carolina (all levels), and one hour of Professional Well-Being CLE credit in North Carolina. An application for accreditation of this activity has been submitted to the MCLE Committee of the State Bar of Texas and is pending.

Justia only reports attendance in jurisdictions in which a particular Justia CLE Webinar is officially accredited. Lawyers may need to self-submit their certificates for CLE credit in jurisdictions not listed above.

Note that CLE credit, including partial credit, cannot be earned outside of the relevant accreditation period. To earn credit for a course, a lawyer must watch the entire course within the relevant accreditation period. Lawyers who have viewed a presentation multiple times may not be able to claim credit in their jurisdiction more than once. Justia reserves the right, at its discretion, to grant an attendee partial or no credit, in accordance with viewing duration and other methods of verifying course completion.

At this time, Justia only offers CLE courses officially accredited in certain states. Lawyers may generate a generic attendance certificate to self-submit credit in their own jurisdiction, but Justia does not guarantee that lawyers will receive their desired CLE credit through the self-submission or reciprocity process.

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Speakers
Jill Carnell
Jill Carnell Chief Contemplative Officer
Thought Kitchen, LLC

Jill Carnell (she/her) is a curious entrepreneur and compassionate disruptor who enjoys convening people, resources, processes, and ideas to bring more ease to our daily lives. Read More ›

Loretta Oleksy
Loretta Oleksy Mindful Life and Work Coach
Thought Kitchen, LLC

Loretta Oleksy (she/her) is a lawyer, social worker, and group facilitator dedicated to helping people connect with what lights them up. She loves helping people discover their strengths and learn to align their lives and work with them. Read More ›

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