102. Lawyering While Human: How To Practice Law in a Healthy, Fulfilling Way

This is a blockbuster important episode. Mike Kasdan joins The Free Lawyer today to share his insights about maintaining our wellness and mental health while being a successful lawyer. Mike has journeyed through a bout with severe depression and now shares his story publicly to inform the legal community about how to practice law in a healthy and fulfilling way. These are some of the important topics we discussed:

-How depression manifests itself and how to overcome it

-Why and how law firms can help create a healthier legal profession

-The benefit of community to obtain the support we all need and deserve

-How to best handle the stress of our profession

-How we can benefit by sharing our struggles with others

-The importance of knowing we are never alone and there is always an answer

-How to achieve true personal freedom by being genuine and true to ourselves

Mike is a graduate of the Univ. of Pennsylvania, and received his J.D. from NYU School of Law, where he now teaches as an Adjunct Professor. He has worked in law firms of all sizes, for over 20 years. Mike is presently a partner in the IP Group at Wiggin and Dana LLP in their New York City office and has served on their diversity and pro bono committees.  

For the last ten years, Mike has also been in leadership at The Good Men Project, where he has served numerous roles on both the editorial and business side, including editing and running its mental health section, and now serves as Director of Special Projects (and Sr. Sports Editor).  He has written articles, appeared on television, radio, and podcasts, developed videos and social media campaigns (#NotWeakJustHuman, #WeRageForLove), and created and led training and workshop groups focused on mental health for over a decade. 

 

Most recently, Mike has married his interests in mental health advocacy and the legal industry under the umbrella of Lawyering While Human, which he founded in 2022. In this regard, he also serves on the Communications Committee of The Institute for Well-Being In Law. His own personal experience with depression, while working as a practicing lawyer, has given him some unique insights, and he is happy to have this opportunity to share his perspective and what he has learned with others in the field.

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