Here you’ll find CLE videos, podcasts, meditations and self assessments, studies and news articles, suggested reading — and places to find help if you need it.
Coping with COVID-19
COVID-19 has amplified stress and anxiety about finances, job security, providing and caring for family, and the health of loved ones.
Florida Lawyers Helpline
833-351-9355
This free and confidential service connects members with professional counselors. Calls are always free. You may be referred for up to three free telehealth counseling sessions per year to help you develop strategies to overcome life’s challenges, balance priorities, and better handle both personal and professional pressures.
The helpline is for Florida Bar members and is not a referral service to find a lawyer or make a complaint against a lawyer.
Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc.
FLA provides programs and services to assist attorneys, judges, law students, and other legal professionals who may be impaired in their ability to function in a legal setting. The backbone of FLA is a support network of recovering attorneys and judges who wish to carry the message to fellow members of their profession that recovery is possible. FLA also offers help to those suffering from depression and other mental illnesses.
eVideo Counselor
eVideo Counselor provides online face-to-face video counseling with licensed mental health therapists. Florida Bar members and their families save more than 20% per session.
Mental Health and Wellness Organizations
This comprehensive listing of state, national and online mental health and wellness resources was compiled by Attorney Mental Health Education, Inc.
Florida
Broward County-Fort Lauderdale-24 Hour Suicide/Mental Health Hotline
954-537-0211
Dade County-Switchboard of Miami – 24 Hour Crisis/Suicide Prevention
305-358-HELP (4357)
Florida Lawyers Helpline
833-FL1-WELL
Miami Dade Homeless Trust
305-375-CARE (2273)
Miami Rescue Women
305-571-2250
National Alliance on Mental Illness of Florida
South Florida Behavioral Health Network
South Florida Behavioral Health Network-Miami Dade & Monroe County Mental Health & Drug Treatment
305-858-3335
National
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
212-870-3400
Cocaine Anonymous (CA)
310-559-5833
Debtors Anonymous (DA)
800-421-2383
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
818-773-9999
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233
National Helpline For Judges Helping Judges
1-800-219-6474
National Hopeline Network
1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255) 24/7
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for Deaf & Hard of Hearing
1-800-799-4889
Online
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity
Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
National Domestic Violence Hotline
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (24/7)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Chat
National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being
Psychology Today Find A Therapist
Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services administration Treatment Locator
Continuing Legal Education Videos
The Florida Bar produces free health and wellness webinars and videos, many of which are eligible for continuing legal education credit. Here is just a sampling of what’s available.
LegalFuel: The Practice Resource Center of The Florida Bar
Young Lawyers Division Health & Wellness Video Series
#StigmaFreeYLD Campaign
The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division launched the #StigmaFreeYLD campaign to help end the stigma over mental health and illness in our profession. The campaign website includes the stories of attorneys who have struggled with mental illness but have gone on to build successful practices and find joy in their lives by taking action to seek help.
By opening up the discussion, we can break the stigma over mental illness in our profession, lift each other up, and help more lawyers find fulfillment in their practice.
The Florida Bar Podcast
Podcast from The Legal Talk Network
New!
Substance Use and Mental Health Toolkit for Law School Students and Those Who Care About Them
This toolkit is a collaborative effort of the American Bar Association (ABA) Law Student Division and the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs. It was created by hundreds of individuals around the country to provide pre-law advisors, law school administrators, counseling personnel, faculty, students, student leaders, and lawyer assistance programs with a user-friendly resource to deal with mental health and substance use within your respective schools.
Well-being Toolkit for Lawyers and Legal Employers
Developed by Anne Brafford for the American Bar Association.
80 Tips for Lawyer Thriving
Developed by the American Bar Association’s Presidential Working Group to Advance WellBeing in the Legal Profession.
Meditations & Self-Assessment
Wellness Wednesday: Weekly inspiration and tips.
Recordings by Jon Kabat-Zinn: Are available for purchase and you can download directly to your computer.
UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center: Scripts vary from five to 19 minutes (free for download and also available in Spanish).
Dartmouth: Audio recording of a 10-minute relaxation & mindfulness practice (free for download).
What Makes Lawyers Happy? (Personal Assessment)
Suggested Reading
These can be used for member or book club discussions:
Mental Health and Wellness: Destigmatizing the Discussion and Promoting Solutions, January 2018 Florida Bar Journal (articles by various authors)
Positive Professionals: Creating High-Performing Profitable Firms Through the Science of Engagement by Anne Brafford
Lost Found & Rewired: Mind Tools to Shift you from Stressed and Frazzled to Calm and Vital by Cynthia Dougherty, Ph.D.
Life Your Way: Refresh Your Approach to Success and Breathe Easier in a Fast-Paced World by Amy Wood, Psy.D.
50 Lessons for Lawyers: Earn More. Stress Less. Be Awesome by Nora Riva Bergman
Beyond Smart: Lawyering with Emotional Intelligence by Ronda Muir
The Healing Power of Breath: Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety. Enhance Concentration. and Balance Your Emotions by Richard P. Brown MD and Patricia L. Gerbarg, M.D.
The Addicted Lawyer: Tales of the Bar. Booze. Blow and Redemption by Brian Cuban
Feeling the Heat: An Interrogation of the Soul by John B. Contini
Girl Walks Out of a Bar: A Memoir by Lisa Smith
The Anxious Lawyer by Jeena Cho
Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Wherever You Go. There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Here you’ll find news from The Florida Bar News and Journal, research, and state and national articles.
Articles From The Florida Bar News
Research
2014 Comprehensive Survey of Lawyer Assistance Programs
Building the Positive Law Firm: The Legal Profession at its Best
The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys
Study Indicates Lawyers Struggling with Substance Use and Other Mental Health Issues
National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being 2017 Report
What Makes Lawyers Happy? Transcending the Anecdotes with Data from 6,200 Lawyers
State and National Articles
Jacksonville Daily Record, Mental health: It’s time to be honest about it, March 5, 2020
ABA’s Law Practice Today: Special Issue on Attorney Wellness, August 2018
NYTimes: Yale’s Most Popular Class Ever: Happiness, Jan. 28, 2018
Above The Law: Staying Well In Law School, Aug. 9, 2017
Florida Bar to Create Health and Wellness Programs for Lawyers, July 24, 2017
NYTimes: Lawyer, The Addict, July 15, 2017
ABA Journal: BigLaw tackles mental health issues with on-site programs; is its business model at fault?, June 05, 2017
ABA Journal: Younger lawyers are most at risk for substance abuse and mental health problems, a new study reports, Feb. 6, 2016
CNN: Why are Lawyers Killing Themselves, Jan. 20, 2014
Mental Health & Wellness of Florida Lawyers Committee
The Mental Health & Wellness of Florida Lawyers Committee was established to implement the 2018-19 Florida Bar Strategic Planning Priority, which focuses on the mental health and wellness of Florida lawyers, and to continue the work started by the Special Committee on Mental Health and Wellness of Florida Lawyers.
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Carl Schwait
2221 NW 23rd St
Gainesville, FL 32605-3833Office: 800-863-1462
Cell: 352-538-3221
[email protected]
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Tenzer Arrieta PLLC
1001 Brickell Bay Dr Ste 1812
Miami, FL 33131-4925Office: 305-400-7995
Fax: 305-808-7300
[email protected]
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GrayRobinson, P.A.
515 N Flagler Dr Ste 1425
West Palm Beach, FL 33401-4349Office: 561-886-4100
Cell: 561-762-7147
Fax: 561-886-4101
[email protected]
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The Smith Law Firm
509 Whitehead St
Key West, FL 33040-6503Office: 305-296-0029
Cell: 305-923-4080
Fax: 305-296-9172
[email protected]
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North County Traffic
29582 US Highway 19 N
Clearwater, FL 33761-2150Office: 727-464-6193
Cell: 727-464-6193
Fax: 727-453-7282
[email protected]
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Atticus, Inc. & Real Life Practice
39650 US Highway 19 N Apt 754
Tarpon Springs, FL 34689-3912Office: 866-662-0993
Cell: 727-278-8113
[email protected]
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Law Office of Bruce Blitman
12447 Aviles Cir
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418-8993Office: 954-646-1128
Cell: 954-646-1128
Fax: 954-433-7816
[email protected]
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Marshall Dennehey
Landmark Center One, Ste. 550
315 E Robinson St
Orlando, FL 32801-1912Office: 407-420-4380
Cell: 407-420-4380
Fax: 407-839-3008
[email protected]
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Cassel & Cassel, P.A.
4000 Hollywood Blvd Ste 685S
Hollywood, FL 33021-1202Office: 954-589-5504
Cell: 561-202-5713
Fax: 954-990-4356
[email protected]
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Three Thirteen Law, PLLC
Suite 108 #115
10312 Bloomingdale Ave
Riverview, FL 33578-3663Office: 813-530-9849
[email protected]
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Kristie Deblasio
Public Member
Term: 2022
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56 Bay Bridge Dr
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561-4467Office: 850-202-1010
[email protected]
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Akerman
50 N Laura St Ste 3100
Jacksonville, FL 32202-3659Office: 904-598-8631
[email protected]
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Law Office of Karla D. Ellis
PO Box 425
Tallahassee, FL 32302-0425Office: 850-815-1930
Cell: 850-815-1930
[email protected]
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Palm Beach County Courthouse
South County Courthouse
200 W Atlantic Ave
Delray Beach, FL 33444-3664Office: 561-274-152
Cell: 561-274-152
[email protected]
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Akerman LLP
50 N Laura St Ste 3100
Jacksonville, FL 32202-3659Office: 904-798-3700
Cell: 904-798-3700
Fax: 904-798-3730
[email protected]
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Shutts & Bowen LLP
215 S Monroe St Ste 804
Tallahassee, FL 32301-1858Office: 850-241-1717
[email protected]
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Ninth Judicial Circuit
Orange County Courthouse
425 N Orange Ave Ste 460
Orlando, FL 32801-1544Office: 407-836-0577
Cell: 407-836-0577
Fax: 407-835-5236
[email protected]
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Kelley Kronenberg
10360 W State Road 84
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324-4237Office: 954-370-9970
[email protected]
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City Attorney, City of Coral Gables
405 Biltmore Way Fl 2
Coral Gables, FL 33134-5717Office: 305-460-5084
Cell: 305-460-5084
[email protected]
Board Certifications:
- City, County and Local Government Law
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Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP
50 N Laura St Ste 2600
Jacksonville, FL 32202-3629Office: 904-598-6157
Cell: 904-318-8894
Fax: 904-598-6257
[email protected]
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Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building
1351 NW 12th St Ste 423
Miami, FL 33125-1630Office: 305-548-5721
Fax: 305-548-5512
[email protected]
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Jane Springer
Member
Term: 2022
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State Attorney's Office, 14th Circuit
PO Box 1040
Panama City, FL 32402-1040Office: 850-872-4473
Fax: 850-872-4461
[email protected]
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Fallgatter Catlin & Varon, PA
200 E Forsyth St
Jacksonville, FL 32202-3320Office: 904-353-5800
Fax: 904-353-5801
[email protected]
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339 E Macclenny Ave
Macclenny, FL 32063-2294Office: 904-259-3575
[email protected]