With new opportunities to work on its committees, IWIL invites members of the legal profession to apply to participate by July 26th.
The Institute for Well-Being in Law has shared a new opportunity for legal professionals to contribute to the work that IWIL is doing to shift the culture in the profession to support well-being better. Individual volunteers will be matched according to their interests, experience, and skills.
Find more details about and instructions for applying to serve on a committee here. A brief summary of their committees follow:
- Program Committee – will provide innovative education, resources, and tools to teach individuals and organizations evidence-based strategies for preventing behavioral health impairments and promoting well-being of all members of the legal profession.
- Policy Committee – will assist the Board of Directors with identifying, evaluating, initiating, and monitoring policies, rules, and practices that impact well-being at the state and national level.
- Research and Scholarship Committee – will assist the Board in promoting and supporting research and scholarship opportunities in the field of well-being by identifying topics for study and research, advancing funding opportunities, and promoting a better understanding of the well-being challenges in the legal profession based on quantifiable and scientifically derived data.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee – will identify and work with allied stakeholders focused on DEI issues within the legal profession, particularly in regard to its inherent connection to well-being. In conjunction with these allies, the committee will develop common strategies and opportunities to address these concerns profession-wide and will work to ensure that the impacted communities have a voice in well-being advancements.
- Fund Development Committee – will assist in the development and oversight of IWIL’s fund development plan, working to identify and secure sources of funding to advance the organization’s mission.
- Communications Committee – will be responsible for the development and execution of a robust communications plan across all platforms and mediums.
- Governance Committee – will ensure the IWIL board of directors and committees are functioning appropriately, efficiently, and in the best interests of advancing the mission.
Serving on an IWIL Committee offers the opportunity to bring your vision, connect with leaders in the profession, and make a difference. Committee members are expected to attend and actively participate in regular meetings, typically held monthly via Zoom, by contributing to discussion, brainstorming, idea sharing, and participating in the development and implementation of the committee work plan.
IWIL is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as it works to overcome stigma, ableism, and other obstacles to well-being in the legal profession. As IWIL states in their materials:
Committee recruitment and selection will align with IWIL’s DEI Policy, which states a belief that, “strength is derived from reflecting the population we serve.” IWIL is committed to “embracing, respecting, valuing and encouraging differences in gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, language, physical and mental ability, socio-economic status, age, and other characteristics that make our profession unique.”
Background on IWIL
Formerly the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being, IWIL began as a grassroots movement in 2016 formed by leaders of NOBC, APRL, and ABA COLAP in response to the latest findings on the state of well-being in the legal profession. In its first year, it published the groundbreaking report, The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change (August 2017). Read more about IWIL here.
Related:
Free & Confidential Consultations:
Lawyers, law students, and judges in Massachusetts can discuss concerns with a licensed therapist, law practice advisor, or both. Find more on scheduling here.
