2021-2022 Committee Priorities
The SJC Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being is committed to the following strategic priorities for 2021-2022.
Primary Programs & Initiatives for 2021-2022
*Each program or initiative supports at least one of the priorities above
Bar Association Outreach
1) Continue to host quarterly meetings with bar association leaders
2) Distribute the Bar Association Well-Being Toolkit
3) Present at a board/leadership meeting of each bar association
4) Work with bar associations to replicate successful bench-bar conferences
5) Work with bar associations to increase participation in Well-Being Week in Law
Data Collection & Analysis
1) Continue to oversee collection, storage, and analysis of demographic survey and data
2) Assist bar associations, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, and other organizations to conduct data on the well-being needs of lawyers in the Commonwealth.
DEI-Specific Projects
1) With working groups, make sector-specific recommendations to address DEI
2) Work with trial court offices to collect, report, and address incidents of bias in courts
3) Investigate the feasibility of a pilot court observer program in Probate & Family courts
4) Continue to offer safe space meetings for underrepresented populations with LCL
Law School Well-Being
1) Continue to distribute and encourage usage of Law Student and Faculty, Staff, and Administrator Guides
2) Work with law schools to increase well-being related programming
Legal Well-Being Network
1) Continue regular meetings, posting recordings and other resources on webpage
2) Expand the reach of this network
Loan Assistance Advocacy, Education, Coaching, and Repayment
1) Expand the pilot coaching and education program with AccessLex
2) Continue to pursue Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for private attorneys taking CPCS appointed cases
3) Explore options for repayment of loans
Management/Supervisor Skills Training
1) Pilot a management/supervisor training program for legal services attorneys
2) Pilot a management/supervisor training program for small firms
Public Agencies Cross-Agency Programs
1) Continue regular programs
2) Increase outreach to all public employers
Service Delivery
1) Continue to work with the court to develop a sustainable model to deliver well-being programs and services
2) Continue to collaborate with LCL to effectuate our priorities and support LCL’s mission
Statewide Mentorship Program and Mentorship Database
1) Conclude the first mentorship program cycle and conduct evaluations
2) Begin next mentorship program cycle, recruit mentors and mentees
2) Continue to maintain a mentorship database of all mentorship programs offered to attorneys and to disseminate that resource to attorneys in need
Other Important Programs & Initiatives
*The programs and initiatives below may be multi-year efforts or come secondary to those prioritized above
Health Insurance and Benefits for Solo/Small Firms – Continue to work toward this multiyear effort
Judicial Well-Being Programs - Develop programs and services for judges with Judicial Institute and Flaschner
Mental Health First Aid/Alternatives to Suicide Trainings - Offer regular trainings to enable legal professionals to recognize and support individuals in distress
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Trainings - Offer regular courses in mindfulness-based stress reduction methods
Peer Support - Assist LCL in expanding peer and group support for different populations
Podcast - Record and publish a podcast highlighting lived experiences and innovative well-being programs, initiatives, policies
Practicing with Professionalism - Work with LCL on a joint presentation/recording to include in course
Town Halls - Conduct town halls listening sessions with law firm associates and law students, respectively
