The Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being joins the Institute for Well-Being in Law to celebrate Well-Being Week in Law, May 5-9, 2025, as part of Mental Health Awareness Month in May. We invite you to coordinate or participate in local activities, whether you’re an individual, law firm, corporate legal department, government entity, bar association, law school, or other organization or consultant involved in the legal profession.

Visit this page for a master listing of all events, programs, and activities happening across Massachusetts.

**All events are free and open to all.

National Resources: https://lawyerwellbeing.net/well-being-week-in-law.

Explore last year’s events and watch the 2024 keynote here.

Keynote Event featuring Gloria Mark, Ph.D.

(Held on May 1, 5:00 PM-7:00 PM)

Keynote Event with Gloria Mark, Ph.D., Author of Attention Span and Researcher on the Impact of Digital Media on People’s Lives (Hosted by the SJC Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being and the Massachusetts Bar Association).

Hosted by the SJC Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being and the Massachusetts Bar Association, this keynote event will explore the significant challenges posed by digital media on attention, distractions, and well-being, particularly within the legal profession. Dr. Gloria Mark, an expert in human-computer interaction and digital media’s impact on individuals, will present her research findings and insights into how technology affects our ability to focus and maintain productivity. Her work is a crucial aspect of Well-Being Week in Law, emphasizing the need to address attention management as a core component of improving well-being in the legal profession. Understanding these challenges is critical for lawyers seeking to protect their mental health while navigating the demands of their work in an increasingly digital world.

The event will be divided into two parts:

  • Keynote Presentation and Q&A with Dr. Gloria Mark on attention spans, digital distractions, and strategies to maintain focus.

  • Panel Discussion with Dr. Mark and legal professionals, exploring how technology impacts well-being in the legal profession. Topics will include managing constant connectivity, the effects of multitasking, and practical strategies for improving focus and productivity in a digital environment.

    • Panelists:

      • Hon. Angela M. Ordoñez, Retired Chief Justice of the Probate and Family Court Department

      • Payal Salsburg, Partner at Laredo & Smith

      • Bernardo Cuadra, Deputy Chief, False Claims Division, Massachusetts Attorney General's Office

      • Shailini George, Suffolk University Law School, Author of The Law Student’s Guide to Doing Well and Being Well, Co-Chair SJC Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being

      • Dyane O’Leary, Suffolk University Law School, Director, Legal Innovation & Technology Center

    Keynote Recording

    Passcode: mW88|7\8£&jZ

MONDAY (5/5): Physical Well-Being

*SPECIAL DISCOUNT: Massachusetts Lawyers receive a 50% discount on race tickets for Spartan Races in North America, including two races in Massachusetts in August and November, https://www.spartan.com. Use code: MASSLAWYER

  • 9:00 AM-9:30 AM: Dr. Meyers Guided Mindfulness (Hosted by Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers and Mindfulness in Law Society).

    Please join Dr. Tracey Meyers, staff clinician at Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, for a guided mindfulness session tailored for attorneys to enhance their well-being and focus and support emotion regulation. Dr. Meyers will also provide a brief overview of how to start a mindfulness practice or continue to build on an existing one to manage the stressful demands of the legal profession along with a brief overview of how mindfulness can support mental and physical health. This practice will help you cultivate a sense of calm, improve your concentration, and foster resilience against daily stressors. Mindfulness practices can be portable tools to use not only in your personal space but also in brief moments throughout your workday, whether before entering the courtroom or during a pause between meetings. Register Here.

  • 12:00 PM-1:00 PM: WWIL 2025 Kickoff: Boosting Well-Being With Connection (Hosted by the Institute for Well-Being in Law). *

    Dr. Anne Brafford and Tara Antonipillai, the Well-Being Week in Law Co-Chairs, will kick off WWIL 2025
    with an engaging session that explains this year’s theme and leads activities to bring it to life. More information
    coming soon! This year, we have general registration. When you register for Well-Being Week in Law, you’ll have access to the online event platform where all webinars will be available. Register for WWIL.

  • 1:30 PM-5:30 PM: Moving Together: Exploring Connection Through Movement, Exercise & Dance (Hosted by the Institute for Well-Being in Law). *

    Kick off Well-Being Week in Law 2025 with energizing and interactive experiences that highlight the power of moving together. Physical activity is well known for boosting mood, improving cognitive function, and reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. But when we move in sync with others—whether through dance, exercise, or even a simple walk—it strengthens our sense of connection and belonging. Shared movement has been shown to release neurochemicals that enhance social bonding, reduce stress, and even lower pain levels.

    The Moving Together program offers multiple expert-led movement sessions, so you can participate in whatever feels right for you. No experience is needed, and you’re welcome to turn your camera off if you prefer.

    Choose from the Following Sessions:

    1:30 PM: Yoga

    2:00 PM: Seated Boxing Workout

    3:00 PM: Community Mindful Walk

    3:30 PM: Qi Gong

    4:30 PM: Ballet for Well-Being

    Join us and experience firsthand how moving together can strengthen both body and mind!

    CLE credit will not be available for these sessions.

    * This year, the Institute for Well-Being in Law has general registration. When you register for Well-Being Week in Law, you’ll have access to the online event platform where all webinars will be available. Register for WWIL.

TUESDAY (5/6): Spiritual Well-Being

  • 11:00 AM-1:30 PM: Work Smarter, Feel Better: Incorporating Well-Being Into a Successful Trial Practice (Hosted by the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys).

    Location: Keches Law, 2 Granite Ave, Milton, MA

    Featured Presenters:

    Filippa Marullo Anzalone, Boston College Law School

    Christopher Earley, Earley Law Group Injury Lawyers

    Melissa Jones, Planet Depo

    Alan Klevan, Law Offices of Alan Klevan, P.C.

    Rhonda Maloney, North Shore Law LLC (Moderator)

    This program and lunch are free, but we ask that you please register. Register Here.

  • 12:00 PM-1:00 PM: Fostering Wellness and Connections in the Workplace (Hosted by the Boston Bar Association). Register Here.

  • 12:00 PM-1:00 PM: Fireside Chat: Practicing in Recovery (Hosted by the Institute for Well-Being in Law). * Join us for an insightful and candid conversation with a distinguished panel of legal professionals who have
    successfully navigated their careers while embracing the journey of recovery. Our panelists will share their
    personal stories, challenges, and triumphs.

    Speakers:
    James D. Lawrence, Partner, BCLP
    Casey L. Miller, Associate, Dechert
    Steven R. Wall, Global Managing Partner, Morgan Lewis.

    * This year, the Institute for Well-Being in Law has general registration. When you register for Well-Being Week in Law, you’ll have access to the online event platform where all webinars will be available. Register for WWIL.

  • 2:30 PM-4:30 PM: Exploring the Connection between Well-Being and Identity in the Legal Profession: The Importance of Supportive Workplaces and Allyship (Hosted by the Committee for Public Counsel Services)

    Exploring the Connection between Well-Being & Identity in the Legal Profession: The Importance of Supportive Workplaces and Allyship will focus on recently released proposals from the Affinity Bar Associations that provide practical ways to improve well-being in the profession and to dismantle systemic inequities. This program will feature a roundtable conversation comprised of various members and focused on public service and government workplaces.

    CLE Approved for:
    CAFL, CAFL Appeals, YAD, YAD Appeals, Adult Criminal Trials, Adult Criminal Post-Conviction, Mental Health Litigation, MHLD Appeals, SORB/SDP

    Register in advance for this meeting:

    https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/GYyYywSwSGW9QjMvx4Dg4w

    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

WEDNESDAY (5/7): Career and Intellectual Well-Being

  • No events planned today! Check out the many resources.

THURSDAY (5/8): Social Well-Being

  • 9:00 AM-10:00 AM: Community Connections Breakfast (Hosted by the Boston Bar Association).

    Join the Well-Being Advisory Committee for a revitalizing morning at their Well-Being Week in Law Community Connections Breakfast! For this breakfast, we will be exchanging well-being tips with one another. Attend and share how you prioritize your well-being while also learning from others. 

    What to Expect:

    • Networking: Meet and mingle with like-minded professionals dedicated to fostering well-being in the legal field.

    • Insights: Learn well-being tips that can enhance your personal and professional life.

    • Support: Engage in meaningful conversations that can help you build a healthier work-life balance.

    Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your network and discover how prioritizing well-being can benefit you and your practice! Register Here.

  • 11:30 AM-12:45 PM: Uniting the Legal Community in Turbulent Times: Fostering Resilience, Purpose, & Well-Being (Hosted by the Institute for Well-Being in Law). With constant news about threats to law firms, courts, and the rule of law, many lawyers are feeling disoriented and anxious. The unprecedented turmoil seems uncontrollable, unpredictable, and likely to persist—all factors that amplify stress and heighten the risk of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. However, cultivating resilience can help lawyers navigate this “existential crisis” and maintain their strength, vitality, and well-being.*

    Speakers:

    • Prof. Stephen I. Vladeck, Georgetown University Law Center and CNN contributor (Bio)

    • Neel Chatterjee, Founder of Law Firm Partners United (Bio)

    • Prof. Kendall L. Kerew, Georgia State University College of Law (Bio)

    • Moderator: Dr. Anne M. Brafford, JD, PhD, Behavioral psychologist and founder of Aspire (Bio).

    (See Literature References for the Webinar Framework Here)

    CLE credit will not be available for this session.

    * This year, the Institute for Well-Being in Law has general registration. When you register for Well-Being Week in Law, you’ll have access to the online event platform where all webinars will be available. Register for WWIL.

FRIDAY (5/9): Emotional Well-Being

  • 12:00 PM- 1:00 PM: Polyvagal Theory in Lawyering: Cultivating Support for Ethical Decision Making (Hosted by Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers)

This is the second presentation of a two-part series. The first presentation was held in February 2025 entitled “What is Polyvagal Theory? Applications for Navigating Stress & Resilience in the Legal Profession” which provides a helpful a foundation to continue this conversation.

This latest session is designed to provide legal professionals with valuable insights into how understanding and applying Polyvagal Theory can enrich their professional skills, promote integrity and resilience in their legal practice.  

Polyvagal Theory, developed by scientist and researcher Dr. Stephen Porges, revolutionizes our understanding of the autonomic nervous system by highlighting how its three key branches—ventral vagal, sympathetic, and dorsal vagal—affect our responses to stress, safety, and social engagement. This presentation provides insights into how our physiological states influence emotional regulation and interpersonal connections which can significantly impact a lawyer’s ability to handle challenging situations in professional and personal settings.  

Dr. Tracey Meyers and Stacey Best, Esq. will:

  • Provide a brief overview of polyvagal theory and how the autonomic nervous system influences stress, resilience, and social engagement which is crucial for legal professionals.

  • Provide a fresh framework through which lawyers can better understand or achieve best ethical practices.

  • Talk about supports to enable lawyers to enhance resilience through a deeper understanding of the nervous system and polyvagal theory.

    Register here.