The Virginia Bar Association is the recipient of the inaugural Award for Excellence in Wellness and Well-Being in the Legal Profession. The honor, given by the Virginia State Bar President's Special Commission on Well-Being, will be presented June 17 during the VSB Annual Meeting.

Paul E. Fletcher, executive director and CEO of the VBA, nominated the association for two VBA initiatives: the COVID-19 Law Practice Live Chats and the Annual Lawyer Wellness Challenge.

Past President Alison M. McKee conceived of the live chats, a series of weekly phone calls open to all Virginia lawyers to keep them informed of the evolving issues of the pandemic.

The Annual Lawyer Wellness Challenge is a partnership between the VBA Young Lawyers Division and the Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program. It emphasizes lawyer wellness in mind, body and spirit. The 2022 event, the third one, included a step challenge, an ethics program, a mocktail mixer and a presentation on creating good habits.

The VSB reported that while the nomination detailed the third Annual Lawyer Wellness Challenge, the committee considered the longstanding commitment to wellness the recurring event exemplifies.

The award will be presented during the VSB's Conference of Local and Specialty Bar Associations Annual Meeting & Awards Breakfast.

Read the Virginia State Bar release about this honor.