Professional Vitality Committee

The health and vitality of lawyers and judges in the NCBA community depend on skills that help deal with the varying stress levels inherent in an adversarial profession. The Professional Vitality Committee (PVC) focuses on the well-being of legal professionals from the beginning of career to winding down, to retired; not only on the stresses of the profession but on the joys of our life experiences – on living while lawyering. The PVC seeks to draw on our diverse collective experiences as legal professionals, in a variety of workplaces at varying stages of life and careers, to craft and curate resources which educate and raise awareness about skills that address vitality and well-being, and enhance enjoyment in being a legal professional. 

READ THE PVC BLOG

A Dynamic New e-Book for Planning for the Next Stage of Your Law Practice (2021)

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A New NCBA Resource for Legal Professionals, Written by the Professional Vitality Committee (2020)

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Additional Resources

The Impact of the Pandemic on the Practice of Law | The Pandemic required courts and legal professionals to adopt new ways of doing business, from making virtual court appearances to signing documents electronically. Some of these changes are likely here to stay. The article surveys some of the most significant changes resulting from COVID and discusses the related Rules of Professional Conduct.

Working Remotely? How to Stay Connected | Studies suggest that the remote work initially necessitated by COVID will be a permanent feature for a significant portion of the workforce. The article provides guidance on creating connection and engagement for legal professionals working from virtual offices.

Mistakes: Confronting Lawyers’ Worst Fears | Every legal professional knows the fear of making a mistake. Yet, rather than protecting against missteps, this fear often contributes to them. This piece reviews “Untangling Fear in Lawyering” by Heidi K. Brown, which addresses the ways in which fear is detrimental to our work and suggests strategies firms and individuals can employ to mitigate against the risk of mistakes and be prepared to address them when they inevitably occur.

The Common Struggle: Working moms navigate families and legal careers through a once-in-a-century pandemic | The Pandemic placed unique pressures on working mothers who disproportionately found themselves juggling the roles of child care worker and teacher while also attempting to meet all their professional obligations. The article tells the stories of several of these women and provides suggestions for how employers can better support working mothers, now and in the future.

One Size Does Not Fit All: Contemplating and Evaluating Flexible Work Arrangements | This article explores many important factors for consideration by employers and employees alike who may now or in the future be examining long-term flexible work arrangements.

Vocational Distancing: The Necessity of Disconnecting to Survive and Thrive | With the onset of COVID-19, “social distancing” has become part of the global lexicon. But the move to virtual workspaces and corresponding blurring of boundaries between home and office make the notion of “vocational distancing,” i.e. disconnecting from work to promote physical and mental health and professional flourishing, all the more important.

“My Lawyer Is Always Available.” Managing Client Time Expectations | This article discusses ways to deal with unrealistic client expectations about lawyer availability.

A Lawyer’s Stress-Relief Smorgasbord – From Mainstream to Metaphysical | A veritable stress-relief smorgasbord for conscientious lawyers.

Carol S. Dweck’s Mindset Offers Insights for Legal Professionals | In her book Mindset, psychologist Carol Dweck describes a new way to view human potential and offers us a “reset button” for our lives.

Experiencing COVID-19 as Both a Mother and Domestic Violence Attorney | Techniques that helped the author balance her personal life and practice of law during a crisis can be adapted for future use by many other legal professionals.