The Fulfillment Formula: Assessing Your Legal Career – Employment Transition Skills – Support Navigating Challenging Times [Online]
In response to the needs of those who may be feeling the impact of the rapidly changing landscape, LCL is launching an 8-session support program specifically for lawyers working in the non-profit sector, as well as lawyers whose work has been impacted by the current government situation. The program will offer 4 sessions focused on peer support and stress management tools and 4 sessions focused on employment transition skills. While registration will be organized into these two categories, participants are welcome to attend any or all the sessions. Each session of peer support and stress management tools will be limited to 20 participants. Future offerings of this support group will be based on interest and registration strength.
We’re doing this because lawyers sit at an important intersection of our community. Lawyers serve others through the lens of their unique qualities and experiences. Much like the “sandwich generation,” lawyers often find themselves sandwiched between powerful external forces and the needs of the clients they serve. This becomes especially difficult when those external forces feel punitive or seem to be the root of undue suffering. Many of us have grown up in the practice of law with a particular view of how lawyering is done, and how the administration of justice is accomplished. So, when legal precedents are disrupted or the system for pursuing justice shifts dramatically, our stress responses can be activated.
Under the current government administration, we are seeing changes that many of us have never experienced before in our personal or professional lives. These shifts are not only procedural or policy-based—they also strike at the heart of who we are and the communities we care about. Such seismic change can deeply affect our capacity to function as legal professionals. For some, this has already resulted in job loss, separation from loved ones due to immigration enforcement, or the emotional toll of representing clients going through these ordeals. This is where LCL comes in.
At LCL, our mission is to promote well-being and resilience in the legal community, to improve lives, nurture competence, and elevate the standing of the legal profession. A healthy and thriving legal community is not only our vision—it is essential to a just and civil society. It’s also a large part of why I became a lawyer. As LCL’s executive director, I am honored to serve every legal professional who allows us to walk with them on any part of their journey. I’m equally privileged to lead a team of skilled and compassionate colleagues who share this mission.
At the heart of our work is the appreciation that each individual matters. Lawyers carry the capacity to affect exponential change in their communities. We all arrive at this work shaped by our life experiences and our well-being across what are commonly called the 8 Dimensions of Wellness. These factors influence how we interpret and respond to each moment, making it likely that who we are as people impacts the way we experience the practice of law and the way we practice law impacts our life experience. We are committed to honoring the contributions of every lawyer by ensuring our programs are accessible, inclusive, and relevant. Our clinical team provides confidential support to help individuals navigate personal and professional challenges. Our interdisciplinary approach includes coaching, practice management support, and ethics guidance to ensure that lawyers can meet the highest standards even in difficult times. Whether now, or in the future, LCL is here to help.
Stacey A. L. Best, Esq.
Executive Director, LCLMA