The legal profession has a reputation for being fiercely competitive and relentlessly demanding—qualities that are often bred at law school. Law students are implicitly encouraged to do whatever it takes to stay ahead of the curve, even at the expense of their well-being.
This systemic pressure perpetuates a culture where stress, burnout, and substance abuse are normalized. The cycle is further exacerbated by career dissatisfaction stemming from a disconnect between personal values and the realities of legal practice. Law schools have a unique opportunity to take more proactive approaches to better equip students with healthy coping strategies and effecting positive change.
Bloomberg Law’s third annual Law School Innovation Program challenged institutions to showcase their novel initiatives designed to combat burnout, promote well-being, and cultivate resilience for fulfilling long-term legal careers. Three law schools have pioneered innovative approaches to address these critical challenges and forge a new path forward.
University of San Diego School of Law
The University of San Diego School of Law’s Developing the Whole Law Student initiative emphasizes well-being, resilience, and practical skills that are essential for long-term career success and ethical practice.
Through the Mentor Collective—a higher education mentoring platform that uses surveys and matching algorithms to provide 1Ls and 2Ls with tailored mentors—USD School of Law works to help students feel like they belong and to guide them in their career search. Through school partnerships with external organizations such as the California Judges Association for “enhanced learning,” students not only gain theoretical knowledge, but also real-world skills needed to navigate the demands of the legal profession. Other courses like the Experiential Advocacy Practicum and the Contemplative Practice of Law elective offer students early-career exploration.
Law school faculty and staff play an important role in supporting students, according to Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs Emily Nagisa Keehn. “Another unique aspect to this initiative is our effort to walk alongside students as they develop their resilience skills.” she said.
For instance, faculty and leadership participate in group runs with students through the USD Law Running Club, and also host a “5-day meditation challenge” during wellness week that is open to the entire school community.
University of California, Irvine School of Law
University of California, Irvine School of Law’s Happiness and Peak Performance for Law innovative law school course offers a science-driven approach to teach law students about career resilience and how to thrive in their future careers. The multidisciplinary curriculum integrates learning theories, techniques, and teachings from various fields.
Drawing from the neuroscience and neuroplasticity disciplines, the course teaches students to understand how the brain functions so they can more effectively control it to optimize their mental, emotional, and cognitive functioning. The course also draws on psychology theory to help students learn to master their minds for law school and career success. Other topics covered in the course include:
- Leadership Development
- Interpersonal Communication
- Emotional Intelligence
- Mindfulness
The course’s focus on practical application, including habit modification and mindfulness techniques, distinguishes it from traditional legal education and ensures students can successfully navigate the multifaceted challenges of the profession.
“Our work and innovation is based on the conclusive scientific reality that when all humans (including law students) improve their well-being and resilience, their brain necessarily functions better, their cognitive faculties elevate, and they achieve better results in their careers,” said Professor Rebecca Simon Green, who created the course with her husband, Jarrett Green.
Belmont University College of Law
A key element of Belmont University College of Law‘s holistic approach to legal education is its Extended Enneagram Training. What makes the mandatory program unique is that it integrates personality typing into its three-year curriculum to foster self-awareness, build stress management skills, and promote professional identity development and well-being.
First-year students begin by exploring personality mapping and gain insights into how their personalities shape their motivations and potential for success. In the spring, a follow-up session on stress management provides personalized strategies to help them navigate the demands of a legal career effectively. 2L students focus on communication styles and unconscious bias, allowing them to foster a deeper understanding of how these factors influence professional interactions and overall well-being. The final Enneagram session examines how different personality types interact and equips students with essential problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to successfully navigate the complexities of legal practice.
“By understanding how one tends to reach towards personal development and how one tends to react to significant stressors, students are better able to build resiliency skills that enable them to be ethical and fulfilled lawyers over the course of long careers,” said Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Deborah Farringer.
- With assistance from Janet Chanchal.
In previous articles in this series: Melissa Heelan’s Feb. 3 article announced the 2024–2025 Law School Innovation Program’s 10 finalists. Bloomberg Law Legal Analyst Emily Preston’s Feb. 6 piece looked at the finalists in the “career pathing” category and Bloomberg Law Legal Analyst Boebin Park’s Feb. 10 piece examined the finalists in the “technology” category.
Related content is available for free on our Law School Innovation Program page and on our Path to Practice: The Law School Survey page.
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