Starting Aug. 3, 2023
Career Guidance Group
Where: Online via Zoom
When: Monthly on the first Thursday of each month from 3–4 p.m., beginning Aug. 3
Cost: Free!
This drop-in group is for legal professionals seeking support in their job search or in other career dilemmas. This group will be led by Dan Crystal, PsyD or Adely Ruiz, LSWAIC. Getting There: Your Guide to Career Success offers a comprehensive guide to the job search and we can also provide templates for resumes and cover letters. Members will be asked to introduce themselves and support the other participants. We can assist with:
- Resume review
- Best practices for applying online
- Informational interviewing
- Identifying your ideal career
- Transitioning between practice areas
- Workplace challenges
Starting June 15, 2023
Healing Minds: Managing Persistent Challenges to One’s Wellbeing as a Legal Professional
Where: Online via Zoom
When: This group meets via Zoom biweekly 1–2 p.m. Thursdays, beginning June 15
Cost: Free for WSBA members
This group is for legal professionals who are managing depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, addictions, complicated grief after the death of a loved one or have a history of other ongoing struggles with wellbeing. Adely Ruiz, LSWAIC and Dan Crystal, PsyD will host this ongoing, biweekly virtual support group. We aim to create a process group environment where members can share stories and provide support. One theme throughout the group will be how to confront the stigma of mental illness in the legal profession. The importance of respecting the confidences of other attendees will allow for trust among attendees and will be reinforced each session.
Topics of discussion will include:
- What tools are necessary for your daily stability?
- How do you know when you are losing your equanimity? Are there behaviors you engage in that are warning signs?
- Tell us about a time when your wellbeing was at a low point and you had to step away from your work. What helped your recover?
- Are you able to show self-compassion for the challenges you face?
- Do you experience shame for your challenges, and do you see this experience as normal among attorneys?
- Did you at some point work with a therapist, coach, or ally who made a real difference? What was it?
- Have there been times you were criticized for your struggles by attorneys, clients, or people in your personal life?
- Have you ever spoken with clients or other legal professionals about your struggles?
- Were there times you considered stepping away from legal practice? How was that for you?
While we want to leave you with ideas about how to take on challenges, we want the focus of this group to be on hearing your voices.
May 4, 2023
Let's Learn to Knit Together for Wellness
Learn to knit with the WSBA to be more mindful, manage stress, and get creative.
Knitting has been proven to help reduce stress, and it also provides a portable, creative outlet. Just ask Michelle Obama, who picked it up during the pandemic, and Tom Daley, the Olympic medalist who attributes knitting to his gold medal). Cheryl Solomon, herself a practicing lawyer who founded Row House Yarn, has been knitting since college and has found it a key element of maintaining a positive sense of well-being while in stressful law firm and General Counsel roles.
As part of the Well-Being Week in Law, Cheryl will lead a virtual knitting workshop for beginners. It's free for WSBA members to help more people tap into this craft to promote their own well-being.
The online workshop will be held via Zoom 7-8 p.m. Thursday, May 4. Just click the link to join at the start of the event.
The Knitty-Gritty
Cheryl will teach the skills required to make coasters, using Row House's free Beginner Coaster pattern — and she'll leave you with all of the resources you'll need to refresh skills after the workshop and continue to build your knitting skills. Coaster pattern kits for the beginner are available from Row House here. Alternatively, you can use any super bulky weight yarn and size 8 mm (U.S. 11) needles. Amazon also offers the yarn and the needles.
