About

The National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being is a coalition of entities committed to catalyzing a movement to improve well-being in the legal profession. The mission of the National Task Force is to catalyze a movement to improve health and well-being in the legal profession.

In August 2017, the Task Force published a comprehensive report titled The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change. The report spotlights a 2016 study of nearly 13,000 practicing lawyers which found that too many lawyers are not thriving. The report does not stop at identifying problems. It also offers concrete, actionable recommendations for stakeholders across the profession.

The report takes a holistic approach and includes 44 recommendations for improving the legal profession’s culture and supporting lawyers’ full well-being. You’ll find general recommendations that apply across the profession as well as sections tailored to specific institutional stakeholders. The stakeholders include: Judges, Regulators, Legal Employers, Law Schools, Bar Associations, Professional Liability Carriers, and Lawyer Assistance Programs.

In December 2020, the Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL) was formed to carry on the movement launched by the National Task Force. IWIL is dedicated to the betterment of the legal profession by focusing on a holistic approach to well-being. Through advocacy, research, education, technical and resource support, and stakeholders’ partnerships, it is driven to lead a culture shift in law to establish health and well-being as core centerpieces of professional success.

Additional Resources

The Path to Lawyer Well-Being – Report Introduction

Well-Being Toolkit for Lawyers and Legal Employers

Well-Being Pledge for Employers

CoLAP Mental Health Kit for Law Students