The Science Behind the Attorney Mental Health Crisis

We are all well-aware of the mental health crisis in the legal profession, but how much do you know about the work being done to improve attorney well-being? In this episode from The Florida Bar Podcast, hosts Christine Bilbrey and Karla Eckardt talk to Anne Brafford about her shift from big law to the study of positive organizational psychology. They talk about Anne’s book, “Positive Professionals,” and delve into many studies on various aspects of lawyer health and well-being. The findings show that firms that cultivate more support for their employees have better outcomes and greater profitability. Later, they discuss the ABA’s Well-Being Pledge, and Anne explains how its different elements are meant to inspire cultural changes in the profession.Anne Brafford (JD, MAPP, PhD in progress) is a former equity partner at Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius LLP and the founder of Aspire, an educational and consultancy firm for the legal profession.This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1 hour of General CLE Credit and 1 hour of Mental Illness Awareness CLE Credit. Course # 3592.Mentioned in This Episode:Anne’s book: Positive ProfessionalsThe Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change ABA Presidential Working Group resources–ABA Well-Being Toolkit for Lawyers and Legal EmployersVisit the ABA's page for the Working Group to Advance Well-Being in the Legal Profession which, among other resources, includes the Well-Being Pledge Commitment FormAnne's website: www.aspire.legal