Health and Wellness

Committed to the health and wellness of members of the legal profession

Coping Mechanisms to Reduce Stress For Busy Attorneys


Key Findings from 2020 Attorney Mental Health and Well-being Study

In 2020, California Lawyers Association and the D.C. Bar Association participated in an in-depth study of the mental health and wellbeing of attorneys led by Patrick Krill and his research partner Dr. Justin Anker. These studies validated what we knew was true – that attorneys are at a higher risk of experiencing substance abuse, loneliness, depression and suicide. Read the findings of the study, released in three phases, below:

The first phase of findings, released in 2021, focused on the disparate experiences of practitioners by gender. You can CLICK HERE to learn more about the findings and read the peer-reviewed paper, “Stress, Drink, Leave: An Examination of Gender-Specific Risk Factors for Mental Health Problems and Attrition Among Licensed Attorneys.”
In collaboration with California Women Lawyers (CWL), CLA established a statewide workgroup to review the findings of the 2021 findings. The workgroup has produced a report specific to the California legal community with recommendations for various stakeholders, “Losing Our [Best] Minds: Addressing the Attrition Crisis of Women Lawyers in a Post-Pandemic World“.

Recording of 04/25/2023 virtual Town Hall during which workgroup members, report authors, and study conductors discuss recommendations for the California legal community.

The second phase of the findings, released in 2022, took a closer look at law firm culture. You can CLICK HERE to learn more about the second phase of findings and read the peer-reviewed paper, “People, Professionals, and Profit Centers: The Connection Between Lawyer Well-being and Employer Values.”

The third phase of findings, released in 2023, examined that lawyers are at heightened risk of suicidal ideation compared to other groups and the top predictors of this risk.  You can CLICK HERE to learn more about the third phase of findings and read the peer-reviewed paper, “Stressed, Lonely, and Overcommitted: Predictors of Lawyer Suicide Risk.”


About the CLA Health and Wellness Committee

In 2020, CLA established a Health and Wellness Committee (“HWC”) to provide resources and content that support attorney and law student wellness, including general health, mental health, and problematic substance use.  Presently, HWC is exploring how we can help the California legal community shift our culture and standard practices to prioritize the well-being of the community. CLA’s HWC has applied itself in a variety of ways over the years — you can see ample details under “CLA Health and Wellness Campaigns”. Some highlights of our efforts include:

  • Annual January wellness challenge;
  • Annual summer walking challenge;
  • Championship of Well-being Week In Law;
  • Articles and resources shared via CLA member communications and the CLA Health and Wellness Facebook group (open to all);
  • Participation in the 2020 national lawyer well-being study;
  • MCLE webinars; and
  • Virtual programming about a variety of well-being topics including fun, unique, and alternative wellness practices.

See the upcoming events at the top of this page to see what we have in store.

Do you have a suggestion for a future program or want specific resources?  Do you want to write an article about a wellness topic?  Do you have feedback about a past program? Contact the Committee to let us know!


The 2023 Health and Wellness Committee is comprised of: Sara Rief, Chair; Layla Khamoushian, Vice Chair; Paul J. Cambio; Dee Dee Dickey; Greg Dorst; Jala Eaton; Katy Goshtasbi; Michelle Harmon; Erin Joyce; Dominika W. Kriozere; Gary Laturno; David Mann; Matt Neco; Kate Pitzak; Angelina Ray; and Janet Sobel.


Upcoming Events

View More CLA Events
View Past Health and Wellness Offerings



CLA in the News

Competence Issues CLE

People, Professionals, and Profit Centers: The Connection Between Lawyer Wellbeing and Employer Values
Presented by CLA HWC – August 2022
1.0 Hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 Hour Competency Issues

5 Positive Psychology Activities to Cultivate Resilience & Preserve Mental Health During the Pandemic
Presented by the CLA HWC – January 2021
1.0 Hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 Hour Competency Issues

Shelter In Place Institute: Emotional and Social Intelligence for Lawyer Wellbeing
Presented by the CLA Intellectual Property Law Section – November 2020
1.0 Hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 Hour Competency Issues

Substance Abuse and the Practice of Law
Presented by the CLA HWC – July 2020
1.0 Hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 Hour Competency Issues

Weathering the Pandemic and Keeping Your Center Through the Crisis
Presented by the CLA HWC – May 2020
1.0 Hour MCLE credit, including 0.5 Hour Legal Ethics & 0.5 Hour Competency Issues

Health and Wellness Articles

How Female Attorneys Can Improve Financial Well-being, By Jala Eaton (July 2022)
Mindfulness Teacher Judi Cohen Shares Her Tips, By CLA (May 2022)
Finding Connection in the Pandemic Through Storytelling, By Ellen Swain (March 2022)
Avoiding the Pleasure Trap, By John McDougall, MD (February 2022)
Declutter Your Space, Declutter Your Mind, By Erin Joyce and Raquel Greenberg (December 2021)
Competency Issues: Having “The Talk”, By Michelle Harmon (November 2021)
Five Nutritious Essentials to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk, By the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) (October 2021)
How Judicial Officers Can Assist in the Creation of Mental Health of Attorneys While Supporting and Aiding the Delivery of Justice, By Erin Joyce, the Hon. Kevin Rosenberg and Carolin Shining (Fall 2021)
Swimming Through ‘Pandemica’, by Matthew Neco (September 2021)
Food is Your Doorway to Wellness: A Healing Journey Through Ayurvedic Practices, by Layla Khamoushian, Esq. (August 2021)
I Walked 10,000 Steps Everyday for a Year and Then I Broke Up with My FitBit, by Sara Rief (July 2021)
Small Changes I Made to Improve My Sleep, by Dominika W. Kriozere (June 2021)
The Year of Bingo, by Michelle Harmon (May 2021)
Well-Being Strategies for Solos and Small Firms: Building Resilient Work Cultures, by Anne M. Brafford (March 2021)
The Importance of Feeling Grateful, by Dominika W. Kriozere (February 2021)
To Empower Your Wellbeing in 2021, Recognize and Avoid Learned Helplessness, by Patrick Krill (February 2021)
Everyday Mindfulness and Activities for Mental Wellbeing, by Gayani Weerasinghe (January 2021)
Holiday Season Self-Care in the Pandemic Era, by Joan Bibelhausen (December 2020)
Advocati Sani: The Elephant in the Room, by Greg Dorst (December 2020)
Advocati Sani: Anxiety is Here! Build Your Own Toolkit, by Greg Dorst (November 2020)
ADHD in the Age of COVID, by Heather A. Benton (October 2020)
Consider a Plant-Based Diet for Health and Wellness (September 2020)
Competency Issues: Having “The Talk”, by Michelle Harmon (August 2020)
Advocati Sani: Internet Addiction Disorder: Can You Relate?, by Greg Dorst (July 2020)
Advocati Sani: How To Promote Clear Thinking During Stressful Times, by Greg Dorst (June 2020)
Practicing Law in Interesting Times, by Erin Joyce (May 2020)
Advocati Sani: When Lawyering Becomes Who You Are, by Greg Dorst (May 2020)
Advocati Sani: What We Already Know But Can’t Seem to Do, by Greg Dorst (April 2020)
The Healthy Lawyer (Advocati Sani), by Greg Dorst (March 2020)

Join the conversation in the CLA Health and Wellness Facebook Group!


CLA Health and Wellness Campaigns

2023 Well-being Week in Law (WWIL)

Well-being Week In Law (WWIL) occurs the first week of May every year to align with Mental Health Awareness Month.  The aim of WWIL is to raise awareness about mental health and encourage action and innovation across the legal profession to improve well-being. WWIL is an event of the Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL) (fka the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being).

CLA’s Health and Wellness Committee participated in this effort again offering a live virtual event or activity every day of #WellbeingWeekInLaw in alignment with the daily themes set by IWIL:
Monday, 05/01 – Stay Strong | Preventing Injury
Tuesday, 05/02 – Align | How to Bust Your Inner Critic and Create an Inner Ally
Wednesday, 05/03 – Engage & Grow | Define Your Style
Thursday, 05/04 – Connect | Making Professional Relationships More Human and Less Transactional
Friday, 05/05 – Feel Well | The Bench and the Bar: Supporting Each Other Through Wellness and Civility

Recordings of CLA programs events are available for viewing on our YouTube channel and lower down on this web page under ‘CLA Recorded Wellness Programs’.

2023 January #CLAWellnessChallenge

Thank you to everyone who participated in our third annual January #CLAWellnessChallenge! This 25-day challenge started Monday, January 2nd, and provided participants with a Wellness Matrix to track their progress. Participants could participate in the guided challenge which offered a daily prompt, or use the blank side of the matrix to create a wellness journey of their own. Challenge participants received their very own CLA yoga mat as a token of thanks for their investment in the well-being of the legal community!
We used the CLA Health and Wellness Facebook group to share the daily prompt along with some pertinent resources. The Facebook group was also a great way to share progress throughout the month and get some inspiration from fellow participants.
The Facebook group will continue to be available as a space to pursue better well-being in the virtual company of the legal community – we hope you will join us!

Throughout the challenge, CLA’s Health and Wellness Committee provided live programming:

Programs hosted on January 11th and 23rd were recorded and can be viewed lower on this page or on CLA’s YouTube channel.

2022 Summer Walking #CLAWellnessChallenge

From June 18 – July 29 CLA’s Health and Wellness Committee hosted its second annual walking challenge. Teams of five competed to complete a virtual route starting in Edinburgh, Scotland with a finish line in Paris, France (no passport required!) across six weeks — that’s over 800 miles!  Each team member was challenged to walk 8,000 steps each day — an opportunity to reap the physical and mental benefits of regularly walking in addition to establishing a routine around intentional wellness.

Learn more about the challenge, the teams and individuals who won, and more!

2022 Well-being Week in Law (WWIL)

Well-being Week In Law (WWIL) occurs the first week of May every year to align with Mental Health Awareness Month.  The aim of WWIL is to raise awareness about mental health and encourage action and innovation across the legal profession to improve well-being. WWIL is an event of the Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL) (formerly the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being).

CLA’s Health and Wellness Committee participated in this effort again offering a live virtual event or activity every day of #WellbeingWeekInLaw in alignment with the daily themes set by IWIL:
Monday, 05/03 – Stay Strong;
Tuesday, 05/04 – Align;
Wednesday, 05/05 – Engage & Grow;
Thursday, 05/06 – Connect;
Friday, 05/07 – Feel Well

The Chair of the Health and Wellness Committee, Sara Rief, shared some insight into what was planned for CLA members during WWIL and shed some light on the importance of the campaign; read more here. Recordings of CLA programs events are available for viewing on our YouTube channel and lower down on this web page under ‘CLA Recorded Wellness Programs’.

2022 January #CLAWellnessChallenge

Thank you to everyone who participated in our second annual January #CLAWellnessChallenge! This 25-day challenge started Tuesday, January 4th, and provided participants with a Wellness Matrix to track their progress. Participants could participate in the guided challenge which offered a daily prompt, or use the blank side of the matrix to create a wellness journey of their own.

Each week featured a live virtual event including:

Programs hosted on January 6th, 12th, and 19th were recorded and can be viewed lower on this page or on the CLA’s YouTube channel.

We used the CLA Health and Wellness Facebook group to share the daily prompt along with some pertinent resources – the Facebook group was also a great way to share progress throughout the month and get some inspiration from fellow participants. The Facebook group will continue to be available as a space to pursue better well-being in the virtual company of the legal community – we hope you will join us!

2021 Summer #CLAWellnessChallenge – Walk California

From August 1st through September 4th of 2021 CLA’s Health and Wellness Committee hosted our first ever walking challenge.  Over 250 individuals from the legal community, their friends and family joined us this past summer to virtually walk across California (over 950 miles) in the CLA Wellness Walking Challenge! This free, five-week challenge was completed in teams of five and challenged all participants to walk a minimum of 10,000 steps per day.

Learn more about the challenge, the teams who participated, the teams that won, and more!

2021 Well-Being Week In Law (fka Lawyer Well-Being Week)

Well-being Week In Law (WWIL) occurs the first week of May every year to align with Mental Health Awareness Month.  The aim of WWIL is to raise awareness about mental health and encourage action and innovation across the legal profession to improve well-being. In 2021, the event’s name was changed from “Lawyer Well-Being Week” to WWIL to be more explicitly inclusive of all the important contributors to the legal profession who are not lawyers. WWIL is an event of the Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL) (formerly the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being).

CLA’s Health and Wellness Committee participated in this effort again offering a live virtual event or activity every day of #WellbeingWeekInLaw in alignment with the daily themes set by IWIL: Monday, 05/03 – Stay Strong; Tuesday, 05/04 – Align; Wednesday, 05/05 – Engage & Grow; Thursday, 05/06 – Connect; Friday, 05/07 – Feel Well.  Recordings of most WWIL events are available for viewing on our YouTube channel.

2021 January #CLAWellnessChallenge

Thank you to everyone who participated in our inaugural #CLAWellnessChallenge! During this 25-day challenge participants used a Wellness Matrix to track their progress and were provided daily prompts pertaining to fitness, fuel, or fun.  Each week featured a live virtual event: a mindfulness class, multiple workouts including Daily Method and BoxUnion, a talk and walk with fellow members, and a competency issues MCLE webinar. The daily prompts with resources were circulated to challenge participants through our new Facebook group – the group was a great way to share progress on the challenge throughout the month!

Health and Wellness water bottle image and label

In CLA’s March eNews we heard from multiple challenge participants about their experiences. The Facebook group will continue to be available to all legal professionals and students who are interested (regardless of CLA membership status). The CLA’s Health and Wellness Committee will continue to provide resources and events in addition to a place for community and support. Please join us!

Health and Wellness Resources

Click on the topics below to see the full collection of resources available.

Attorney Well-Being

Books:

  • The Anxious Lawyer: An 8-Week Guide to a Joyful and Satisfying Law Practice Through Mindfulness and Meditation, written by me and my co-author, Karen Gifford
  • Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness by Jon Kabat-Zinn
  • 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works–A True Story  by Dan Harris

Positive Psychology 101 for the Legal Profession, by Anne M. Brafford

Mental Health
Problematic Substance Use

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties with using substances (alcohol, drugs, or others) in a problematic way, we encourage you to seek information if not assistance from one or both of our partners:

  1. Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP), provided by The State Bar of California
    • Click the resource category immediately below to learn more about what LAP has to offer and how you may take advantage of their voluntary, free services.
  2. The Other Bar
    • They are a network of recovering lawyers and judges throughout the state, dedicated to assisting others within the profession who are suffering from alcohol and substance abuse problems. They are a private, non-profit corporation funded by members contributions and private donations. Their organization is founded on the principle of anonymity and provides services in strict confidentiality. The program is voluntary and open to all California lawyers, judges and law students. Our consultants and volunteers stand ready to assist their colleagues in all areas of recovery.
    • Call their Toll-Free Information Hotline 24 Hours a Day at (800) 222-0767 or reach out to them here: https://otherbar.org/contact-us/
Resources:
Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP), The State Bar of California

Most people encounter a difficulty at least once in their lives. The State Bar’s Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) is here to help. LAP helps lawyers, State Bar applicants, and law students who are grappling with stress, anxiety, depression, problematic substance use or concerns about their career.

Click here to learn more about LAP and the services they offer.   

You can call the LAP for a free, confidential  assessment by a licensed clinician who can provide you with recommendations and resources for further support.  During this time of social distancing, assessments can be conducted via telephone or video calls.

877-LAP-4HELP / 877-527-4435

State Bar of California Lawyer Assistance Program

Video: “The Lawyer Assistance Program Experience, Part 1,” The State Bar of California
Video: “The Lawyer Assistance Program Experience, Part 2” The State Bar of California
Physical Well-Being
Stress Management

CLA Recorded Wellness Sessions

March 5, 2024 | Heart Disease; Conquering America’s #1 Killer
Speakers. Dr. Jimmy Conway

Confessions of a gut worshipper; Describing the journey from near death to health and the foods that cause the disease and the foods leading to health.

April 25, 2023 | Town Hall: Losing Our [Best] Minds
Moderator: Sara Rief
Speakers: Bree Buchanan, Jodi Cleesattle, Judith Gordon, Katy Goshtasbi, Patrick Krill

In this panel discussion workgroup members, report authors, and study conductors provide a high-level overview of the 2020 lawyer well-being study and the California workgroup report, “Losing Our [Best] Minds: Addressing the Attrition Crisis of Women Lawyers in a Post-Pandemic World,” followed by deep dives into the actionable recommendations for various stakeholders and players in the California legal community (e.g., law students, legal job seekers, employers, and bar associations).

February 14, 2023 | Don’t Break Your Heart
Speaker: Dr. Brooke Bussard MD, Health Coach, Fitness Specialist, Personal Trainer (ACE), Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), Food For Life Instructor

Dr. Brooke Bussard presents easy-to-understand information about what heart disease is and how our chances of developing and avoiding heart disease is directly connected to our food choices.  Her presentation offers insight into what we can do to avoid heart disease including specific examples of how your lifestyle and food choices could change (recipes included). 

February 22, 2022 | Plant Based Eating for Heart Health
Speaker: Dr. Heather Shenkman, MD, FACC

Learn how plant-based eating can help keep your heart healthy with Dr. Heather Shenkman. Lifestyle, including regular exercise and a healthy diet, are potent in greatly reducing the risk of heart disease.

February 9, 2022 | The Heart Healthy Lawyer: Preventing & Reversing America’s No. 1 Killer
Speakers: Tracy Childs, a Certified Nutritional Consultant & Food for Life Instructor & Gary Laturno, Vice Chair of the CLA Health and Wellness Committee and 2022 President of the La Jolla Bar Association 

Gary Laturno discusses three heart disease reversal programs: 1) Nathan Pritikin, Pritikin Longevity Center; 2) Dean Ornish, University of CA, SF; and 3) Caldwell Esselstyn, Heart Disease Reversal Program, Cleveland Clinic and goes on to discuss the cause of heart disease, myths and misperceptions, the simple life style changes needed to prevent and reverse the disease and the benefits, including the reversal of other chronic diseases and their symptoms not with drugs or surgery but with delicious food. Tracy adds to the conversation while giving a live cooking demonstration of some great health-centric recipes for American Heart Health Month.

January 19, 2022 | #CLAWellnessChallenge: How to Start the New Year With Less Stress and Better Digestion
Speaker: Jessica Weizenbluth is a practicing healthcare attorney, yoga teacher, and certified holistic health coach.

In this video, speaker Jessica Weizenbluth will discuss how your perfectionism is causing you unnecessary stress, the key to making lasting changes, the biggest causes of stress, and how stress impacts your digestion. You’ll then learn various techniques to help you stick to your goals, manage stress, and heal your digestion, that are practical, effective and create long-lasting change.

January 12, 2022 | #CLAWellnessChallenge: Wardrobe Wellness
Speaker: Carolyn Martin, a personal wardrobe stylist for business professionals in Los Angeles and beyond.

In this video, speaker Carolyn Martin administers a “The Wardrobe Wellness” workshop that teaches us how to transform our closets into our very own inspiring boutique. She discusses how to dive into decluttering your closet, discover your personal style, and fill in the missing pieces with items that light you up. With proper Wardrobe Wellness, you’ll get dressed in less time and with more confidence so you can show up as the very best version of yourself!

January 6, 2022 | #CLAWellnessChallenge: If You Can Walk, You Can Nordic Walk!
Speaker: Jacki Elledge is a Nordic Walking Trainer, certified massage therapist, childbirth doula, and fitness instructor.

In this Video, speaker Jacki Elledge will introduce us to Nordic Walking, the poles, techniques, and benefits of it. Whether you are an athlete, 10,000 step counter, stroller, or beginner. Perhaps you are managing instability, injury, or recovering from surgery. Nordic walking can offer something for everyone!

December 15, 2021 | Wellness Wednesday: Dairy- Not All It’s Milked to Be 
Speaker: Mindy Kursban, Esq., Board Chair, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

In this video, speaker Mindy Kursban will show that cow’s milk isn’t nature’s perfect food or even essential for strong bones as most of us have once thought. Having grown up in the DC area with a father and step-father who worked for the federal government, Mindy naturally trusted the government’s advice. Then she learned the truth about dairy when she gained access to government documents while working at the Physicians Committee. During the video, Mindy discusses the mostly unspoken harms of the dairy industry–to our health, to the animals, and to the environment- so that you can judge for yourself whether it’s time to kick dairy to the curb.

November 17, 2021 |Wellness Wednesday: Super Prepped – Prepping Your Super Foods for Your Future Self
Speaker: Tracy Childs, a Certified Nutritional Consultant & Food for Life Instructor 

In this video Tracy Childs, co-founder, chef, and director of Tracy’s Real Foods a plant-based company; shows the audience how to prepare a variety of plant-based superfoods in fun and easy ways. She shares the many tips and tricks that she has learned over the years of teaching cooking and nutrition for optimal health. She also explains the numerous benefits attributed to keeping a plant-based whole-food diet which includes increased immunity and better overall energy. Tracy’s goal during this video is to assist viewers in personalizing and creating their own whole-food plant-based meals which are both quick to prepare and full of nutrients.

August 18, 2021 | Wellness Wednesday: Fighting America’s #1 Killer Among Kids & Adults with Delicious Food 
Speaker: Jennifer Nemeth, Clinical Nurse & Food for Life Instructor

In this video, Jennifer Nemeth explains the importance of combating heart disease by incorporating the power of a plant-based diet through the consumption of more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts/seeds. She also provided easy and delicious ways to add these food groups in for kids and adults. During the video, Jennifer demonstrates how to make a kid-approved vegan chocolate mousse and vegan ranch.

July 21, 2021 | Wellness Wednesday: Essentials of Walking
Speaker: Jacki Elledge, Fitness Instructor

Nordic Walking and Yoga Instructor Jacki Elledge reviews the essentials of walking for beginners and active walkers. In this presentation we learn about hazards to be aware of, how to prepare for your outing, the lifespan of our fitness shoes, walking sticks and poles, hydration, stretching, increasing intensity, proper posture and more!

May 7, 2021 | #WellbeingWeekInLaw: Simple Tools for Managing Our Everyday Emotions
Speaker: Mojdeh (Maya) Zavosh, Board Certified Mind-Body Wellness Coach & Reiki Master

For the final day of 2021 #WellbeingWeekInLaw, we focused on feeling well and our emotional well-being.  Join board certified wellness coach and certified workplace wellness coach Mojdeh (Maya) Zavosh for an interactive session to identify and manage everyday emotions and increased mental agility, for a healthier happier more focused you.

May 5, 2021 | #WellbeingWeekInLaw: LAP & The Other Bar, Supporting the Legal Profession
Speaker: Michelle Harmon, LCSW and Greg Dorst

On day #3 of 2021 #WellbeingWeekInLaw, we gave our attention to engagement and growth as professionals. We were joined by representatives from both The Other Bar and The State Bar of California’s Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) to talk about exactly what each organization does and has to offer members of the legal community.

May 4, 2021 | #WellbeingWeekInLaw: Meditation for the Legal Mind
Speaker: Speaker: Gulwinder “Gullu” Singh, Esq.

For day #2 of 2021 #WellbeingWeekInLaw, we focused on alignment and spiritual well-being of the legal community. Join mindfulness instructor and corporate real estate attorney Gullu Singh for a guided meditation, and some of his insights on the characteristics of the legal mind and meditation myths. Use this time find your center and learn how you may benefit from mindfulness and meditation practices.

May 3, 2021 | #WellbeingWeekInLaw: Moving Medicine & Law Forward in the 21st Century
Speaker: Michael Klaper, M.D., Physician, Speaker, Educator

For the 1st day of 2021 #WellbeingWeekInLaw we focused on our physical well-being, with an emphasis on the food we eat… Join us for one of the hottest topics in medicine and law – the implementation of plant-based diets for reversal of degenerative disease. This presentation will highlight the medical and nutritional concepts of disease reversal that participants can use to improve their own health.

February 11, 2021 | Ready to Rock Your Practice?
Speaker: Judith Gordon; Founder, LeaderEsQ, LLC; Founder, Center For Thriving in Law; Lecturer in Law, UCLA School of Law

As we well know, law is a high-demand, high-intensity profession requiring skills that go beyond analytical thinking. Staying focused, productive, and high-performing is a challenge in the best of times. On top of that, noncognitive influencers are always at play. What are some of those hidden factors and necessary skills? Watch this interactive hour to pick up a few tools of the trade that support a sustainable, high-performance career in law.

January 4, 2021 | New Year, New Era, New You
Speaker: Mitra Manesh, Innermap Founder & Mindfulness Teacher

If you’re still waiting/hoping/wishing for the old normals to come back, you’re not alone, and also, you’re not on the right path.  Mitra Manesh shares with us why and how we can navigate our way through the dizzying maze of these uncertain times into a healthier, happier, and more meaningful life in using mindfulness as a tool. This zoom session was the first event to kick off the #CLAWellnessChallenge in January 2021. Mitra Manesh’s website: https://www.mitramanesh.com/
Podcast: “Lights On with Mitra Manesh”: https://www.innermap.me/lightson
Innermap – Mindful Living, beyond meditation App (IOS): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/innermap-daily-mindfulness/id1446002903

October 20, 2020 | Radically Transform Your Health Through a Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet
Speaker: Anthony Lim, M.D., J.D., Medical Director of the McDougall Program & a Staff Physician at TrueNorth Health Center

Moderated by Sara Rief and Gary Laturno. A whole-food, plant-based diet has demonstrated the ability to prevent and reverse the majority of chronic illnesses. This video will explain what a whole-food, plant-based diet is, the evidence supporting its ability to reverse chronic illness and radically improve one’s health, and practical steps for adopting this lifelong joyful way of eating.  Dr. Anthony Lim shares some of his own personal journey, the experiences and successes of some of his patients, and takes the time to answer several questions from the live audience.

July 23, 2020 | Benefits of Plant-Based Diets
Speaker: Vanita Rahman, M.D., Barnard Medical Center (Certified Nutritionist, Personal Trainer, and Board-Certified Internal Medicine Physician)

Dr. Rahman shares with us her own struggles with weight loss and health issues, and how a plant-based diet helped her lose weight and regain control of her health. She shares the scientific evidence about plant-based diets, and how they can lead to sustainable weight loss and reverse common conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. She also reviews the interconnection between nutrition and the environment before answering some questions from our live audience.

May 8, 2020 | Conquering Chronic Disease & Preexisting Conditions in the Age of COVID-19
Speakers: Gary Laturno, Esq., Past Chair, CLA Real Property Law Section; Member, CLA Health & Wellness Committee; former FBI fitness advisor and Lera Blevins, Esq., Attorney, Simone & Associates in San Diego, CA

During Lawyer Wellbeing Week 2020, attorneys Gary Laturno, Lera Blevins, and Sara Rief discussed how lifestyle changes, such as a whole food diet, can reverse most chronic disease and preexisting conditions.  They also answered several questions regarding how to incorporate a whole food diet, in part or in full, into your routine.  This session was an informal follow up to an MCLE webinar Gary Laturno gave in early April 2020, Conquering Chronic Disease & Preexisting Conditions in the Age of COVID-19.

April 10, 2020 | Practicing Resilience in These Times: Tools to Navigate Our Personal and Professional Lives
Speaker: Judge Paul A. Bacigalupo, Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court and Immediate Past President of the California Judges Association

Join Judge Paul Bacigalupo, Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court and Immediate Past President of the California Judges Association, for this illuminating discussion about how to build and maintain resilience in both our professional and personal lives followed by a breathing exercise.

March 27, 2020 | Meditation Experience
Speaker: Dr. Rochelle Calvert, PhD.

A brief discussion about the science behind mindful meditation and nature helping our immune systems and mental and emotional health. This discussion is followed by a guided mindfulness meditation lead by Dr. Rochelle Calvert, PhD.  Dr. Calvert is a licensed psychologist, a certified mindfulness teacher, and the founder of New Mindful Life at which she is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner.

Screenshot of video

March 20, 2020 | Finding Ease During Uncertainty
Speaker: Jeena Cho, Esq.

It’s a stressful and anxious time for many in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. You may be overwhelmed trying to figure out how to work from home, manage childcare, care for elderly parents, and worry about what’s ahead.  Join Jeena Cho, attorney, and author of the best-selling book, “The Anxious Lawyer: An 8-Week Guide to a Joyful and Satisfying Law Practice Through Mindfulness and Meditation” for a 20-minute session.  Jeena shares tools for relaxing the anxious brain, practices for returning to homeostasis, and lead you in a short guided meditation.


The CLA Health and Wellness Committee may be contacted at wellness@calawyers.org

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