The Nebraska Task Force on Lawyer, Judge and Law Student Well-Being (“Well-Being Task Force”) has released a report entitled Examining Lawyer, Judge and Law Student Well-Being in Nebraska. The report is the culmination of a two-and-a-half-year review by the Well-Being Task Force of the state of well-being within the Nebraska legal community, as well as initiatives to create positive change for our legal professionals. The Well-Being Task Force members consisted of the key stakeholders within the Nebraska legal community, including lawyers, judges, law school administrators, Nebraska State Bar Association, Attorney Services, mental health professionals and the Nebraska Lawyers Assistance Program (NLAP).

The Well-Being Task Force was created in 2019 at the request of NLAP, and its members evaluated the current challenges to the well-being of Nebraska legal professionals, reviewed what the key stakeholders are doing to bring about positive change, and identified several remaining areas for improvement to be address through future initiatives. We invite you to read the full report at https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/Administration/Well-Being_Task_Force_Report.pdf

The Well-Being Task Force defined personal well-being as “a continual process of seeking to thrive in each dimension of one’s life: Emotional, Occupational, Intellectual, Spiritual, Physical, and Social.” It’s not just about avoiding the bad but also fostering good mental and emotional health, career satisfaction, and relationships that positively impact our lives. While lawyers and judges perform a critical function for their clients and our society, it doesn’t necessarily require legal professionals to sacrifice their emotional health, physical health, relationships, or career satisfaction to meet professional demands.

The Well-Being Task Force reviewed data about the challenges facing lawyer, judge, and law student well-being. The mental health, alcohol/drug use, chronic stress and suicide risks experienced by legal professionals are well documented, nearly always at rates that exceed the rates within the general population. The Well-Being Task Force then turned their efforts to review what each stakeholder group within the legal profession was doing to improve well-being. Once that review was completed, the Task Force then sought to identify areas for further improvement.

The report documented progress in several key areas, including enhanced well-being focused programing and resources within both Nebraska based law schools, the implementation of well-being focused policies by legal regulators, and a willingness to discuss and emphasize the need for improvement in lawyer, judge and law student well-being. The report also noted that an emphasis on well-being education and awareness has made a positive impact.

Though progress has been made, the Well-Being Task Force identified the need to provide resources to legal employers, especially small employers who have less internal resources. To serve that need, the Task Force plans to create sample policies, well-being resource kits and opportunities for legal employers to share ideas. Similarly, the Task Force identified the unique challenges facing rural practice lawyers as an area that needs improvement. Finally, much work still needs to be done to remove the stigma associated with a lawyer, judge or law student asking for help when he or she is struggling.

Neither NLAP nor the Well-Being Task Force can accomplish this work alone and  working groups are being formed to provide additional resources and idea sharing, including legal employers, solo practitioners, and rural practice. If you or your firm/organization would like to participate in the legal well-being movement, please contact Chris Aupperle, NLAP Director at (402) 475-6527.