Virginia Lawyers’ Wellness Initiative
About
The Virginia Lawyers’ Wellness Initiative coordinates the education of, and assistance to, judges, lawyers, and law students regarding professional health and wellness initiatives, with a specific focus on improving mental health and addressing substance abuse in the legal profession.
Since 2019, the Virginia Lawyers’ Wellness Initiative has administered funding to the Virginia Judges & Lawyers Assistance Program (formerly Lawyers Helping Lawyers), an independent non-profit organization, which provides confidential, non-disciplinary assistance to members of the Virginia legal profession, as well as their family members, who experience impairment as a result of substance abuse or mental health issues.
Contact Information
- Wellness Coordinator: Hetal M. Challa
Email: hchalla@vacourts.gov
Phone - (804) 317-7861
Resources and Reference Materials
Wellness Initiative Reports
- A Profession at Risk
The Report of the Committee on Lawyer Well-Being of the Supreme Court of Virginia, which contains recommendations for the structure, funding, and priorities of the Virginia Lawyers’ Wellness Initiative. - The Occupational Risks of the Practice of Law
The Report of the Virginia State Bar President’s Special Committee on Lawyer Well-Being examines twenty risks unique to the legal profession (including physical, mental & emotional, adaptation, and self-actualization risks) and includes practice pointers for individuals and organizations to ameliorate these risks. - The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change
This report, from the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being, served as the genesis for the Supreme Court of Virginia report. It includes national statistics on the lack of well-being in the legal profession and offers concrete, actionable recommendations to improve this issue.
Continuing Education and Other Resources
- Additional Resources from the Virginia State Bar
- The Virginia Lawyers Weekly Wellness Blog
This no-cost section of the Virginia Lawyers Weekly website focuses on practice pointers for attorneys, judges, and their families with regularly updated content including topics such as time management, self-care, and physical well-being. - Virginia CLE Wellness in the Legal Profession Courses
Links to five 1-hour courses available from VA CLE that are free to Virginia judges, lawyers, and law students and have been approved for MCLE credit by the Virginia State Bar.