How the nation’s largest law firm is leaning into health and wellness programs
Here’s a look at Kirkland & Ellis’s approach toward helping staffers cope in a notoriously stressful profession.
Practicing law is not for the faint of heart.
Attorneys are consistently ranked among the most chronically stressed out professionals. Even before COVID-19 hit, 31% of law practitioners reported feeling depressed, 64% had anxiety, and about 14% said they struggled with substance abuse.
Kirkland & Ellis, the largest law firm in the U.S. by revenue, took a bold step in 2019 to address this crisis by creating a new employee well-being program—the first of its kind for a large law firm. The firm hired Robin Belleau, an attorney and certified counselor who previously served as executive director of the Lawyers’ Assistance Program in Illinois, as the director of well-being.
The chief objective of Kirkland’s wellness program is to provide more education, resources and support surrounding mental health issues—and reduce the stigma of asking for help.
“My hope is that the more we talk about these issues in the legal community, the less stigma there is attached to getting help,” Belleau says.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.
