A Message from the President
| Publication year | 2024 |
| Citation | Vol. 35 No. 4 Pg. 6 |
| Pages | 6 |
By Rusty Infinger
It continues to be my honor to talk to you about our Bar's four areas of focus this year: diversity; civility; pro bono/access to justice; and today's discussion, wellness. We are all striving to improve in our practice and become better lawyers, and as our cover story illustrates, having external hobbies, interests and passions enriches our lives and allows us to be better attorneys for the clients we serve.
Our Supreme Court long ago recognized that the practice of law is rewarding but also difficult due to the many demands our profession is faced with daily. To address these concerns and provide support, part of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement is instruction in the wellness arena. At least once every two reporting years, attorneys must complete one hour of instruction devoted exclusively to substance abuse, mental health issues or stress management and the legal profession (SA/MH). Every single time I attend one of these CLE sessions, I leave inspired to be a better person and hence, a better lawyer. I also leave having the utmost respect and admiration for
the lawyer presenting the session giving us insights on identifying concerns and finding solutions. As recently as last month while at a conference, I heard from one of our colleagues who was struggling in her practice due to issues arising out of mental health concerns. She sought help, had incredible support from her law partners, and is now back again on track doing great work for her clients.
Being a South Carolina lawyer is an incredible honor. It can, however, also be a very difficult job. Seeking the right balance between the pressures of work and maintaining a personal life can be daunting. There are services that your South Carolina Bar provides to assist you in navigating those difficult paths, and it is helpful to be reminded of these resources that are available and free to us as members:
Five Free Counseling Sessions Per Year. All South Carolina attorneys may call 1-(855)-321-4384, 24 hours a day/seven days a week and get referred to a counselor in their area for help with any issue that diminishes their productivity and/or quality of life. This is totally confidential. The South Carolina Bar outsources this to a third party so no one will know you called or sought help. All Bar members can get up to five free sessions a year...
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