Lawyer Well-Being Committee

The OCBA Lawyer Well-Being Committee was formed in 2017 to provide our fellow OCBA members with resources, education, and support to members regarding mental, emotional, and physical health issues, including disabilities, serious illnesses, substance abuse, and general well-being.

The Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.1 (b) states that, “For purposes of this rule, “competence” in any legal service shall mean to apply the (i) learning and skill, and (ii) mental, emotional and physical ability reasonably* necessary for the performance of such service.” We attorneys, therefore, have an ethical obligation to take care of ourselves so that we can provide competent representation for our clients.

Being a lawyer is stressful under the best of circumstances. Over time, continued strain on your body from stress can contribute to serious health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other illnesses including mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. We all know that substance abuse and suicide rates among lawyers are among the highest. We must incorporate ways to manage our stress into our daily routines so that we can be at our peak performance and provide outstanding representation. Healthy habits lead to increased clarity and greater productivity which leads to greater success for us and our clients.

The Lawyer Well-Being Committee is intended to be a resource for the Orange County Legal Community. We are here to provide you with educational programs and resources. We encourage you to reach out to us on behalf of your section, affiliate bar association, law firm, county office, or court staff. We are here to serve you.

Join a Committee

Learn More

Contact:
info@ocbar.org

Resources

• UCI Counseling Center - committed to delivering quality services that help students achieve optimal mental health for academic success, personal growth, and increased capacity to cope with the stresses of being a university student.
• ABA Developing a Strong Workday Mindset in a Remote Work World.
• The Other Bar Can Help - 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.
• The Science of Well-Being
• Maintaining Lawyer Wellness in the Face of COVID-19 and a Troubled Economy
• National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being’s Lawyer Well-Being week
• American Bar Association - Trending CLE: COVID-19 Collections
• Free Course - Science of Well-Being — Lawyer Well-Being Massachusetts
• Suicide Prevention Resources from the American Bar Association
  • Also access a free webinar recording: I’ve Got Your Back; You’ve Got My Ear: Suicide Prevention in the Legal Profession.
• OCBA Civility Guidelines
• 7 Strategies for Conquering Stress
• Wheel of Life: A Tool for Living an Integrated Life.
  Simply rate each section then connect the dots. Evaluate the areas for improvement and come up with a practical plan for enhancing your life.
• The Path to Lawyer Well-Being
  (Practical Recommendations for Positive Change from the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being)
• Attorney Well-Being Resource Sheet
• ABA Attorney Well-Being Committee
• California State Bar's Lawyer Assistance Program
• The Other Bar - Supporting Recovery in the Legal Community
• The ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP)
• Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Accommodation Materials for the OC Courts
• The Recovery Village - Personalized Addiction Treatment