November 2, 2020- Practising Law Institute, a leading nonprofit provider of
continuing legal education and other professional training, has designated November as
Professional Development (PD) Appreciation Month.
Recognizing its strong relationship with the PD community, PLI announced that it is launching adedicated, yearly program at no cost to attendees. This year's inaugural program, chaired byDiane Costigan, Director of Coaching and Well-Being at Winston & Strawn LLP and Don Smith, Chief Talent & Inclusion Officer at Crowell Moring, LLP, focuses on the critical topic of wellness in the legal industry. For the first three Thursdays in November, PLI will host Empowering Professional Development Series 2020: Well-being in the Legal Industry, free hour-long webcasts focused on different aspects of well-being.
The series includes:
Where to Start with Well-being: Initiating Conversations in Law School that Continue into Practice (November 5, 1 – 2 p.m. ET), moderated by Rob Cacace, Executive Director, Office of Career Strategy, Georgetown Law, covering the unique well-being challenges faced by law schools and law students; similarities and differences between law schools' well-being conversations with their students and those conducted in a professional setting; the legal profession's role in supporting law schools' student well-being efforts; and improving communication about well-being between law schools, law students, legal employers and professional organizations.
Well-being for Professional Staff – Practicing What We Preach (November 12, 1- 2 p.m. ET), moderated by Sandra Bang, Chief Diversity & Talent Strategy Officer, Shearman & Sterling LLP, addressing how professional staff find value and fulfillment in the face of declining attorney well-being; recharging in the face of competing demands by multiple sources of authority; managing increased stress caused by always-available technology, attorney mental health or substance abuse challenges, and unrealistic attorney expectations; the potential value of Mental Health First Aid training; and unique well-being challenges faced by professional staff who are women, ethnically/racially diverse and/or LGBTQ+.
Designing and Implementing Well-being Programs that Walk the Walk (November 19, 1 – 2 p.m. ET), moderated by Anna Thea Bridge, Director of Professional Development, KramerLevin, covering the most (and least) effective live programs, coaching, apps, and online programs; metrics and tools to measure effectiveness; best practices to incentivize attorneys and professional staff to attend well-being programs; CLE approvals; engaging firm skeptics and more.
"We're pleased to recognize the incredible efforts of the professional development community, particularly during such a difficult year," says Craig Miller, PLI's Interim President and co-founder and host of the PD Insider interview series. "Pivoting to remote learning, facing uncertainty regarding the economy and job market, and dealing with the challenges of the pandemic to training and client service has been demanding for everyone in the legal community. PLI is committed to supporting PD teams across the country as they meet this moment with innovative, thoughtful approaches."
PD Appreciation Month and PLI's inaugural PD program were developed by Kirsten Talmage, Senior Director for Product Strategy & Development. Jesse Sands serves as Program Attorney. Visit PLI's PD Center for additional resources, and PLI.edu for a full list of programs.
About Practicing Law Institute (PLI):
Practising Law Institute is a nonprofit learning organization dedicated to keeping attorneys and other professionals at the forefront of knowledge and expertise. PLI is chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, and was founded in 1933 by Harold P. Seligson. PLI provides the highest quality, accredited, continuing legal and professional education programs in a variety of formats which are delivered by more than 4,000 volunteer faculty including prominent lawyers, judges, investment bankers, accountants, corporate counsel, and U.S. and international government regulators. PLI publishes a comprehensive library of Treatises, Course Handbooks, Answer Books and Journals also available through the PLI PLUS online platform. The essence of PLI's mission is its commitment to the pro bono community.