Just one look at any newsstand and the many magazines published on the subject is ample evidence of the heightened interest in wellness issues. The news pages regularly report on studies that link poor lifestyle to a variety of chronic medical conditions - and to the soaring costs of poor lifestyles on the Canadian economy.

This spring, the CBA's National Magazine reported results of a national survey in which lawyers overwhelmingly said the number one issue facing the profession is: "balancing work as a lawyer with the quality of personal and family life." Most major gatherings of the bar now feature at least one seminar/workshop on wellness-related topics. The American Bar Association's latest law practice management magazines feature reviews of books on balance life and work, and articles on topics such as: "Mischief, Mirth and Merriment: How Having Fun Can Improve a Law Practice."

Lifestyle choices affect claims
Through its claims handling process, LPIC sees first hand the debilitating effects of poor lifestyle choices on lawyers' judgment and performance. Stress, addictions, poor physical fitness, workaholism and related lawyer burnout are but some of the issues that often underlie the error or omission that results in a claim. One study indicated that about 50 per cent of lawyers facing serious disciplinary sanctions admitted to alcohol, drug or psychiatric problems.

That's why practicePRO made the broad subject of wellness an integral part of its program right from the start.

And because wellness is an increasingly important issue for the bar - and in keeping with the topical nature of the issue - we've just expanded our Wellness initiative.

At www.practicepro.ca you'll find a revamped Wellness section of our web-site that puts, at your fingertips, assessment tools, guides and resources to help you address the inter-related issues of wellness and balance in your personal and professional lives -- because all are essential to a successful law practice.

Wellness a unique experience
Achieving and maintaining wellness and balance varies from lawyer to lawyer. For some lawyers, the primary issue may be poor nutrition and lack of exercise, leading to fatigue and an inability to cope with the workload. Others may have succumbed to the relief that alcohol, drugs, or other addictions provide from the pressures of the daily grind. For still others, the underlying issue may be a need to better manage stress.

Thee key information sections
praticePRO's Wellness web-site reflects this diverse range of problems that lawyers can encounter. The site is organized around three key wellness issues:

• Tools to Stay Healthy: which links to information on the benefits that an active lifestyle, physical activity, nutrition and volunteering play in one sense of well-being;

• Getting Stress Hardy: which links to a self-coaching tool that lets you assess the impact stress is having on your life and provides FREE online access to workshops to help you deal with your specific stress detractors;

• Addictions: which provides online access to assessment tools and resources on the four most common addictions facing lawyers: alcoholism, drugs, gambling, and sexual addictions.

Links to resources
As well, the Wellness site provides online access to some of the key counseling, mentoring and health promotion resources available to lawyers, including:

• Ontario Bar Assistance Program (OBAP);
• Legal Profession Assistance Conference (LPAC);
• LINK - Lawyers' Assistance Program;
• Canadian Bar Association (CBA).

Finally, the site links to dozens of resources that can help interested lawyers learn more about specific performance detractors in their own lives.

The emphasis throughout is on providing online access to reputable organizations with expertise in each specific subject area. As is the case with other sections of the practicePRO site, the Wellness section acts as an aggregator of information. We've done your research for you, identified the best tools and resources available online in North America on each of the chosen subject areas, and provided you with the links.

All you have to do is come to the web-site with an open mind, and a willingness to examine the wellness and balance issues in your life.

practicePRO newsbriefs
practicePRO brings Wellness message to Institute 2001 breakfast
practicePRO launched its expanded Wellness web-site at the annual CBAO Institute for Continuing Legal Education, February 1-3, 2001, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

practicePRO sponsored the Friday, February 2 "Healthy, Wealthy and Wise" breakfast program organized by the Ontario Bar Assistance Program (OBAP). As well as getting the benefit of a balanced breakfast, conference attendees heard lawyers and health care professionals cover topics such as: fuelling the lawyer machine; professional health; stress management, and putting it all together. Speakers included: Linda Bell, President and CEO, Bellwood Health Services; Leota Embleton, Project Manager, OBAP; Adrian Hill and John Starzynski for OBAP.

practicePRO makes perfect . . . with the OCC
What is FREE for the asking, takes only minutes of your time, and pays dividends in your practice and personal life - as well as on your bottom line?

It's the online COACHING CENTRE (OCC), practicePRO's web-based self-coaching tool that lets you perfect those "soft skills" so vital to your practice. The OCC's six workshops let you quickly and easily enhance your ability to:

• communicate powerfully
• manage stress more effectively
• overcome procrastination
• manage your practice more efficiently
• develop new business opportunities
• capitalize on your emotional intelligence.

As well, when you use the OCC you may be eligible for a discount off your 2002 insurance premium. Watch your mail to learn more about how to sign up for the OCC and how to qualify for the premium discount. Or, visit the online COACHING CENTRE at www.practicepro.ca and get a head start on perfecting your practice.