From the President

• Jurisdiction: United States,Federal,Georgia
• Citation: Vol. 28 No. 3 Pg. 0006
• Pages: 0006
• Publication year: 2022

From the President Vol. 28 No. 3 Pg. 6 Georgia Bar Journal December, 2022

Attorney Wellness is the New Normal

SARAH B.

"SALLY" AKINS

President State Bar of Georgia president@gabar.org

During the first half of my term as president of the State Bar of Georgia, I have had the privilege of meeting with the leadership of and attending events associated with a wide variety of the Bar's programs-some of which I had no connection to before I took office.

It's been a great learning experience. For example, attorney wellness has not historically been a focus of mine. But now I have learned why the Bar's continued emphasis on the physical and mental well-being of lawyers and judges is so important to our members.

We all live a life of service to our clients, colleagues, families and friends. It is increasingly necessary to add ourselves to that list. For a number of years, the Bar has offered a "Lawyers Living Well" program as a member benefit.

Overseen by our Attorney Wellness Committee, Lawyers Living Well seeks to promote health and wellness among Bar members and staff; identify factors that impact the physical and emotional wellbeing of attorneys; develop work/life balance CLE programs; increase awareness of existing Bar programs that deal with such issues; and accumulate information and educate members about wellness issues and resources.

While most people recognize the numerous benefits of physical fitness, many lawyers and judges find it difficult to squeeze exercise and wellness activities into their busy professional and personal lives. Our Georgia Lawyers Living Well website (www.lawyerslivingwell.org) offers a wealth of resources to help lawyers identify physical health activities they can start right away.

There are many opportunities for lawyers to participate in physical activities in our own home communities. These can include running, biking, golf, tennis, yoga, swimming, bowling or regular workouts at your local gym. Physical wellness also involves aspects of life that are necessary to keep yourself top condition. Optimal physical wellness is developed through the combination of beneficial physical activity/exercise and healthy eating habits. Our wellness website includes numerous tips, articles and links to help you get moving in the right direction.

Equally important to physical health is mental well-being. The Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) offers a 24-hour hotline for professional assistance and...