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• Ashley Csaki, Director of Content & Experience, Momentum 

During this deeply personal and illuminating presentation, benefit from the lived experience of professional burnout- and gain rare insight into the cultural dynamics, internal pressures, and identity challenges that lawyers silently carry. Designed to assist Wellness and HR professionals with better understanding the emotional toll of legal work, the mindset shifts required to break the cycle and the practical steps that made sustainable change possible, including possible discussion on: 

• Identifying early warning signs and overlooked symptoms of burnout in high-functioning lawyers
• Uncovering hidden cultural and emotional expectations that fuel overwork and self neglect
• What had to change- both internally and externally- for real recovery to begin
• Rewriting the definition of success within law- and what others can learn from it

As the legal profession faces mounting pressure to balance performance with sustainability, this opening session explores the current state of wellbeing across law firms and what it means for the future of work. Walk away with data and language you need to make the case for change, with possible discussion on: 

• The latest research on lawyer burnout, engagement and retention
• The business case for wellness- linking culture to profitability and talent success
• What’s next: leadership accountability, hybrid challenges, the future of billable hours 

 Join wellness leaders, talent professionals and legal team managers who are working every day to bridge the gap between good intentions and firm-wide impact. Together, they’ll explore what it really takes to embed wellness into the routines, values, and the expectations of legal professionals- from associates to partners. Featuring possible discussion on: 

• Successfully transitioning your program from reactive to proactive
• How data, pilot programs, peer benchmarking and senior champions can help connect wellness to your firm’s priorities 
• The role of mid-level leaders in ensuring continued success - exploring manager tool kits and incorporating wellness into team norms

Jeanette Boot

Partner

WilmerHale

 

 

Erin McClernon

Attorney Development Manager, Well-Being Working Group Chai

Ogletree Deakins

 

Getting employee buy-in for wellness programs can be an uphill climb, but it doesn’t have to be. This practical, solutions-focused session breaks down what really moves the needle when it comes to engagement. Including targeted strategies that cut through the noise, build trust, and make wellness offerings feel relevant, personal, and worth showing up for, with possible discussion on:

• Simplifying access points and auditing how wellness offerings are being found and used
• Applying targeted communication and incentive strategies that drive participation
• Leveraging data and feedback loops to continuously improve uptake and outcomes 
• Recruiting and utilizing respected managers and team leaders to model participation and encourage involvement

When firm leaders actively support and participate in wellness programs, it signals their importance to the entire organization, encourages widespread participation and embeds wellness into the firm’s culture. During this highly engaging discussion, explore the critical role that senior leadership plays in the successful implementation and long-term engagement of law firm wellness programs. Including possible discussion on:

• Communication from the top- how consistent, transparent communication from senior leaders builds trust and commitment to wellness programs 
• Proven strategies for getting top leadership on board with wellness programs, from demonstrating ROI to aligning initiatives with the firm’s strategic objectives and values
• The importance of leadership participation in wellness initiatives and how it sets the tone for firm-wide engagement
• How senior leaders can use data and feedback to assess the effectiveness of wellness programs and ensure continuous improvement

 

Tailor your afternoon to meet the unique needs and priorities of your wellness program. Designed to stimulate engagement, each breakout will feature focused, informed discussion led by expert facilitators who will present key issues on emerging trends and hot topics. Attendees are encouraged to actively partake in Q&A discussions and benchmark their firm’s strategies against that of their peers.

Breakout 1: Holding Space: Managing Compassion Fatigue and Building a Trauma- Informed Wellness Program

Legal professionals are often exposed to others’ pain, whether through client trauma, high-stakes conflict or workplace stress- and that exposure takes a toll. During this engaging breakout, partake in an expert-guided conversation about the realities of compassion fatigue in the legal field and how wellness programs can better support those carrying emotional weight. Come ready to share experiences, explore best practices and discuss what it really means to create a trauma-informed culture of care.

Confirmed Facilitator 

Breakout 2 : The Future of Belonging: What Does Inclusive Wellness Look Like? 

Wellness cannot be one-size-fits-all, yet many programs fail to reflect the full spectrum of identity, lived experience, and systemic barriers that shape wellbeing. This roundtable explores what it means to design wellness initiatives that support attorneys from underrepresented, neurodiverse and/or marginalized backgrounds- going beyond the surface level to build truly inclusive, culturally competent and equity-driven initiatives. Come ready to share, listen and rethink how belonging is built into the foundation of your wellness strategy-not just added on top. 

Breakout 3: Benchmarking for Wellness Success: What Metrics Matter, and How to Measure Impact Effectively 

Data doesn’t have to be complex to be powerful. This engaging, approachable panel will break down exactly how wellness, HR, and talent professionals can measure the success of their programs- even without a background in analytics. You’ll hear from firm leaders who’ve turned anecdotal wins into quantifiable outcomes and used those insights to gain executive buy-in, refine programming, and drive meaningful change. Whether you’re just starting to collect data or want to level up your reporting, this session will help you connect the dots between wellness and firmwide performance. With possible discussion on: 

• Practical KPIs to start tracking now 
• How to build a simple wellness dashboard
• Ways to link data to business outcomes
• Tops for storytelling with data 

Breakout 4: Bridging the Gap: Navigating Generational Expectations in an Evolving Legal Workplace

From Gen Z’s call for boundaries and balance to Baby Boomer norms around loyalty and grit, today’s legal workplace is shaped by multiple, often conflicting generational values. This roundtable opens up an honest conversation about how different age groups define wellness, success and work-life integration, and what it takes to build mutual understanding across the map.  Expect a lively, empathetic exchange of ideas that challenges assumptions and sparks new strategies for collaboration.

 What makes a wellness program not just good, but truly transformative? Join us for an illuminating fireside chat with leaders behind some of the most successful wellness programs in the country. In this session, go beyond the surface to explore what’s really working, what lessons have been learned and how these trailblazers have overcome challenges to create meaningful, measurable impact within their firms. Featuring possible discussion on: 

• What defines a successful wellness program in the legal profession today
• Common pitfalls and how top firms have avoided or navigated the
• Examples of high-impact, replicable wellness initiatives
• Strategies for gaining buy-in from leadership and employees
• How to measure success and show real ROI

 Not every law firm has a big wellness budget- but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a big impact. This highly interactive session will equip you with low-cost, high-impact strategies to build a thriving wellness culture without breaking the bank. Through live polling, collaborative brainstorming, and real-world examples, attendees will walk away with a toolkit of practical ideas that can be implemented tomorrow- no new vendor contracts required. With possible discussion on: 

• Launching grassroots wellness initiatives that cost little but deliver big
• Maximizing existing resources and relationships to benefit your well-being efforts
• Exploring low-budget, cost friendly wellness tools and resources
• Encouraging peer-led initiatives and peer-driven opportunities 

Even the most well-intentioned wellness strategies can fall flat if they’re quietly competing with entrenched workplace norms and cultural habits. From after-hours happy hours in a profession grappling with alcohol dependency, to always-on email expectations in a firm promoting mindfulness- there are subtle yet powerful contradictions that can derail progress. In this candid and eye-opening session, we’ll explore the lesser-discussed factors that might be unintentionally sabotaging your wellness goals. You’ll leave with new awareness, tough questions to ask internally, and practical steps to begin aligning your culture with your wellness mission. Including possible discussion on: 

• Time pressure meets life pressure- specifically in regards to family planning, maternity leave, caregiving and fertility treatment 
• Navigating “if you’re not advancing, you’re falling behind” culture and the downfalls of “Partner track”

• Overcoming “availability as value” and “overwork as heroism” practices 
• Tackling the “wellness as a luxury” mindset

• Identifying the top three actionable ideas to advance wellbeing in your firm
• Gaining collective insights from peers on shared challenges and opportunities
• Leaving with clear next steps-your personal commitment to the future of lawyer wellbeing