FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 20, 2020
Contact: Alberto Rodriguez
Mobile: 602.518.8704 | Phone: 602.340.7337
E-Mail: alberto.rodriguez@staff.azbar.org

State Bar Wins National Award for Addressing Wellness
and Well-Being in the Legal Profession

PHOENIX – Nov. 20, 2020 – The State Bar of Arizona has been selected as the winner of the 2020 Community & Educational Outreach Award, sponsored by LexisNexis, for its program "Are We OK? A Three-Part Wellness and Well-Being Series" program. The National Association of Bar Executives (NABE) will recognize the State Bar at its virtual annual meeting in February.

The Bars now nationally recognized program "Are We OK? A Three-Part Wellness and Well-Being Series" was offered in partnership with the Arizona Supreme Court and InReach. The Bar’s interest in ensuring members receive well-rounded benefits includes addressing sensitive issues stemming from personal challenges that could affect their ability to practice law.

The FREE three-part series included a 75-minute program in October, November, and December 2019. Topics covered substance use disorders, addiction, and the opioid crisis; mental health issues including depression, anxiety, and suicide; and steps to making a positive change to mental and physical health.

The nationally webcast program was attended in person and remotely by a large audience of lawyers and court personnel, as well lawyer assistance program directors and staff from across the U.S.

"Our collaboration with the Arizona Supreme Court was vital in our efforts to destigmatize these challenges and create a culture in the legal system where lawyers and judges can feel safe in admitting they need help, get it and then share their accounts to help others," said Roberta Tepper, Director of the State Bar of Arizona's Lawyer Assistance Programs.

According to the awards program, recipients were selected based on their degree of innovation and originality in addressing a problem; adaptability of the program by other bar associations; and the importance and duration of benefits derived by audience; among others.

About the State Bar
The State Bar of Arizona is a non-profit organization that operates under the supervision of the Arizona Supreme Court. The Bar includes approximately 24,500 attorneys and provides education and development programs for the legal profession and the public. Since 1933 the Bar and its members have been committed to serving the public by making sure the voices of all people in Arizona are heard in our justice system.

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