Washington Lawyer - January/February 2020 - 24

FEATURE

Nicole Johnson

Judicial Clerk, D.C. Courts; Founder, Trusted Legal Solutions
SELF-CARE ACTIVITY: SNEAKING IN FITNESS
A mother, wife, attorney, and social worker, Johnson juggles a lot
to do what she loves. But she's learning how to put herself first by
managing her work effectively and slipping in bits of "me time"
throughout her week.
"I started making a conscious effort to take better care of myself
because like many other women, when I became a mother all of
my attention went to my family, and I lost myself for a while," says
Johnson, a clerk with the D.C. Superior Court and founder of a virtual
law firm that handles landlord-tenant, child abuse and neglect, and
mental health cases. "I also struggled with postpartum depression,
and I was in physical therapy for two years following delivery complications. Treatment for both required making myself a priority. I'm
better for it, and so is my family."

Courtesy of Nicole Johnson

Her self-care includes 30-minute walks before and after work. During
the work day, she leaves her desk every hour to walk around the
building for at least 10 minutes. She also fits in yoga every morning
and night, keeping her yoga mat by her bed as a reminder. Johnson
includes quality time with her family as part of her wellness routine,
so she makes it a point to leave work by 5 p.m., even if that means
arriving early and socializing less.
"I function better at work when I'm happy and have time to focus
on things that are important to me."

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP has also had a wellness agenda
in place for many years, including Fried Frank Fit Club fitness challenges,
back-up child care, and extended leave options. "But the pledge helped
us take things to a new level and organize things in a different way," says
Annemarie Crouch, who's been driving the strategy forward as global
director of human capital management.
In May 2019, the firm kicked off its Living Well program, which operates
around three pillars - mind, body, and self. One component of the
program is an on-site wellness counselor who offers individual counseling
to all staff members on a bi-weekly schedule. The counselor was so well
received that her hours were extended to accommodate demand.
Fried Frank has also conducted seminars and trainings on how to handle
mental health in the workplace "to help individuals spot any issues and be
sensitive to others," Crouch says. "It's not just for the attorney population.
It impacts everyone."
Other Living Well program services include 24/7 access to professional
counseling provided by Corporate Counseling Associates, Inc., an on-site
personal nutrition counselor; wellness lunch events; and workshops on
mindfulness techniques to reduce stress.

24 WASHINGTON LAWYER

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

The practice of mindfulness rightfully plays a central role in many wellbeing programs. But it requires one to pause and pay attention to inner
thoughts and feelings, which busy professionals often don't make the
time to do.
Goldstein admits he once scoffed at the idea of mindfulness workshops,
but engaging with a coach during his leave changed his perspective.
"I try to practice it more, and I try to be a lot more grateful and positive
in situations where I could be angry or aggressive."
As part of its Well-Being 360 program, launched shortly after the ABA task
force's report, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP ran a pilot program that offered live
meditation in its Washington, D.C., office on Monday mornings.
"It's a great way to start the week," says Maureen Hardwick, partner
in charge of the D.C. office. "It's one of those things you need to
practice. You bring it into everyday practice and access it when you
need it most."
The firm also holds weekly yoga classes and fun runs, and it has a
consistent schedule of stress management, mindfulness, and substance
abuse workshops.

Washington Lawyer - January/February 2020

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