Think Immigration: AILA Well-Being – Education, Community, Support

This blog post is part of our series from the Member Experience Committee highlighting the ways AILA members can join in, build community, access resources, advocate, and enhance the overall AILA member experience.

AILA Well-Being strives to help AILA members lead healthier lives at work and home. We have to take care of ourselves to take care of our clients; we also have an ethical duty to maintain our health to provide competent representation. AILA’s wellness resources have grown from a webpage and “Lawyer Well-Being Week” programming to on-going roundtables, print and video resources, increased annual conference presence, and even to making “meditation” and “mindfulness” household words—for all AILA members—lawyers, law students, and paralegals.

A few years ago, Ken Mayeaux and I, both AILA Well-Being Committee members, presented a program entitled, “Wellness Without the Woo Woo: Real Self-Care for Skeptics and Tough-Minded Professionals.” This is AILA’s approach: to offer science-based and practical information along with non-judgmental support to help each member stress less, feel better, and be healthier.

What Does AILA Well-Being offer?

The Well-Being Center homepage is an entry point for information. Easily found at aila.org – Resources – Well-Being, you’ll be directed to articles and videos that can give you almost instant relief, as well as resources to assist you in mapping a pathway to longer, deeper success with being healthier. The page provides a searchable list of articles on a variety of topics and links to short, guided meditation videos to reduce stress right now or to incorporate into your schedule. If you feel you need additional help that AILA cannot address, you can also access each state’s Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) offering attorneys, law students, and judges a variety of services that address mental health, substance abuse, grief, practice management, family resources, and more.

This page also links you to AILA’s Well-Being Roundtables, upcoming live programs and recordings, all free for members. The Well-Being Committee is offering eight to ten roundtables throughout 2025. Roundtable speakers make a presentation on the topic and then provide time for participants to share their own experiences. These live video discussions focus on all aspects of emotional and physical health, including mindfulness, body wellness, diffusing stress and anger, practice management tips, and more. You can also locate roundtables by searching the tag “well-being” at aila.org – Events and Trainings.

Upcoming Well-Being Programs:

During Well-Being Week in Law—the first week of May—AILA Well-Being will offer daily learning opportunities and fun activities to encourage you to be social and build community as well as learn more about taking care of yourself and stressing less. Check the Well-Being Center page for more information: links to three roundtables, a free webinar providing CLE ethics credit, BINGO challenge, and “Walk, Run, Bike” or other outdoor get-together in many chapters.

Well-Being at AC25: AILA will provide a special focus on wellness and community at the 2025 Annual Conference in Denver. Check the Day at a Glance or full conference program for wellness related CLE sessions (and corresponding manuscripts) located under the Fundamentals Track or Special Sessions. If you need a quiet break during your day of sessions or in the evening (Thursday – Saturday), come by the Well-Being Committee’s “Quiet Room” to relax and gather your thoughts. You’ll also be able to enjoy on- and off-site social activities planned by AILA National and by the Colorado Chapter. The AC25 app will have updates and locations for special New Member and Law Student get-togethers, meetings of interest groups (including for members interested in well-being), receptions, outdoor activities and special day or evening trips, and yoga every morning. And you’ll find more non-alcoholic options at this year’s social events.

More Well-Being with AILA:

You can join the new Well-Being Interest Group and listserv! Finding community and prioritizing well-being have never been more essential for immigration lawyers and staffs. The listserv is designed to uplift and support the AILA community by sharing self-care tips, wellness resources, and fostering meaningful connections. Click here to join; or update your Interest Groups in My AILA by clicking on "Edit Interest Groups" and adding "Interest Group—Well Being."

Introduce yourself to the Well-Being Liaison volunteer(s) in your chapter—each chapter has someone. Support their efforts to engage chapter members in programs and social activities or offer to help them provide opportunities for learning and connection. You can find a link to the Liaisons Directory on the Well-Being Center homepage.

You must prioritize your own physical and mental health to thrive in an immigration law practice. Discover all of AILA’s well-being resources, become involved in the Well-Being Interest Group, and participate in your chapter’s wellness and social activities. These efforts will remind you that you’re not alone as you navigate difficult days.