The law is a demanding profession. Many of these demands are inherent in the profession. However, there are often artificial, unnecessary, or outmoded barriers that prevent lawyers from being able to perform at their best.
A 2016 study of 13,000 currently practicing lawyers found that between 21% and 36% qualify as problem drinkers and 19% to 28% are struggling with significant levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.
These problems lead to high absenteeism and under-productive lawyers resulting in high costs to law firms.
Lawyers are leaving law firms at higher rates than ever before. Forty-four percent of associates leave within three years and 75% leave within five years.
According to one estimate, the cost of replacing a departing associate ranges from $200,000 to $500,000, or roughly 1.5 to 2 times the annual salary of the associate. This only estimates hard costs and may not include lost productivity, other lawyers’ time, and disrupted intrafirm and client relationships.
The Colorado Well-Being Recognition Program for Legal Employers is a step forward in shifting the culture of well-being in Colorado’s legal profession.
Through this first-of -its-kind Program, the Colorado Supreme Court recognizes legal employers, solo-practitioners, and individual legal professionals for implementing within their organizations well-being strategies and recommendations encompassing six specific goal areas of legal well-being.
Each year, legal employers across Colorado take the Well-Being Pledge—a commitment to advancing workplace well-being across six core goal areas.
What participants receive:
Education & Resources: Practical tools and guidance to integrate well-being strategies.
Peer Support: Access to a statewide Legal Well-Being Leadership Network for collaboration, accountability, and shared innovation.
Mentoring & Idea Exchange: Opportunities to join facilitated peer groups for well-being education, mentoring, and crowdsourced solutions tailored to legal workplaces.
Recognition for your commitment: At the end of the pledge year, participants submit a short attestation of their progress. In return, the Colorado Supreme Court recognizes their achievements with:
A recognition event celebrating your organization’s efforts
An official certificate for display
A digital badge for use on your website and materials
This program is more than a pledge—it’s a community of leaders transforming the culture of law through well-being.
Please note that the Colorado Lawyer Assistance Program (COLAP), the free, confidential and independent well-being program for Colorado judges, lawyers and law students, is available at www.coloradolap.org or by calling 303-986-3345. This recognition program is meant to supplement, not replace, the resources offered by COLAP. If you or a colleague are in need of confidential support, referrals, direction on how to resolve personal or professional stressors, or are interested in a free well-being consultation, please contact COLAP directly for assistance.
If lawyers don’t take care of each other, who will?
There is growing concern within the legal profession over a lack of attorney well-being. Not only are attorneys suffering from a significant increase in mental health issues and substance abuse problems, but there is also a failure of attorneys to thrive in the profession as evidenced by significant attorney attrition in leaving law firms and the profession generally.
The Colorado Supreme Court Well-Being Recognition Program For Legal Employers is Colorado’s approach to develop and share “best practices” for institutionalizing well-being strategies and principles in legal organizations. Promoting attorney well-being is good for business, good for clients, and the right thing to do!
