WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Jonathan delivers an effective program around the issues that face our legal industry today by bringing to the table his background as a practicing attorney, professional and personal experiences and his desire for making well-being a priority in law firms.
He shares shocking data that came from a recent groundbreaking study of mental health and substance abuse rates in the legal profession. His experience of being a co-creator of the ABA’s Well-Being Pledge and the former President of the Illinois Lawyers’ Assistant Program Associate Board allow him to directly address critical topics around the “profession’s pessimism problem.” He provides thoughtful, and practical tips to move in a more encouraging direction and draw from and cultivate a culture of positivity and optimism. His passion around these topics shine through when he speaks, and prove he will continue to be a leader in the attorney well-being space at all levels. Also, very important, he is a pleasure to work with and flexible with ever-changing schedules and topics. We look forward to working more with Jonathan in the future!
Kelly Wing
National Director of Attorney Talent
SEYFARTH SHAW LLP
Jonathan did two programs for our first year associates addressing the particular stress they often face as being new in a career and anxious about doing things right. He helped them understand how the brain operates during stress and provided practical tips for blunting lawyers’ negativity bias. Very informative sessions and the breakouts provided some welcome interaction. Well done!
Roz Pitts
Director of Professional Development & Well-Being
KATTEN LLP
Jonathan spoke on the topic of burnout for Saul Ewing’s Working Parents Resource Group during a 1-hour virtual professional speaker training. The presentation was educational and engaging, and Jonathan did a wonderful job explaining the various types of burnout and how to recognize them, and providing practical strategies individuals can employ to reduce burnout and maximize happiness.
Ricky Boorman
Director of Litigation Support Services
SAUL EWING LLP
Jonathan Beitner led our inaugural firm-wide well-being program and did a fantastic job of setting the stage for why well-being is a critical issue in the legal industry, in addition to providing substantive content on 10 critical thinking errors that can undermine our well-being. It was an excellent combination of data, simplified neuroscience, and straightforward strategies to counteract ingrained bad habits. Attorneys and staff both really enjoyed the program, and multiple people asked that we bring him back for additional workshops to dive into the subject more deeply. One hour wasn’t enough!
Reva Pollack
Director of Attorney Development
ICE MILLER LLP
Jonathan Beitner presented his program “Understanding and Avoiding Common Thinking Errors in a Post-COVID World” as part of our Diversity & Inclusion learning and development curriculum and brought to light an important topic that many participants had thought about – but perhaps could not articulate. Jonathan provided key data points and science-based facts to provide the WHY – but importantly provided real life and practical tips on HOW to exercise mindfulness to avoid falling into the same patterns. The feedback from the attendees was excellent – with several requests to bring Jonathan back for additional sessions. Great session!!
Jennifer Leong
Legal Director
JOHNSON CONTROLS INC.
Jonathan provided a firmwide presentation on the topic of resilience. The materials he curated for the presentation and the content covered did a perfect job of emphasizing how important resilience is in the workplace, while providing useful tools and takeaways for our employees. Jonathan did an excellent job working with our team to assure the material covered matched our needs while communicating in an effective and punctual manor. We would be delighted to have Jonathan present on the numerous other topics in his arsenal in the future.
Samantha Lia
Legal Recruiting Manager
KRAMER LEVIN NAFTALIS & FRANKEL LLP
We invited Jonathan to give a presentation on mindfulness and lead a guided meditation at our incoming law student orientation. It was amazing to see an auditorium full of over 250 first-year law students meditating together! Jonathan’s presentation was well-received by students and staff, and we look forward to collaborating with him in the future.
Jenna Silver
Associate Director
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO SCHOOL OF LAW
Jonathan Beitner did an excellent job in presenting a program titled “Attorney Well-Being: The Profession’s Pessimism Problem” for fellows of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). Jonathan gave a wide-ranging presentation on the data surrounding attorney well-being, tips to identify warnings signs, and provided practical exercises to help attorneys cultivate positivity and optimism. The presentation was well-received and Jonathan was a pleasure to work with. I look forward to collaborating with Jonathan in the future.
Steve Flores
Partner
WINSTON & STRAWN LLP
One of the drafters of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse CLE Requirement enacted by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2017, and as founder and chair of the Chicago Bar Association Wellness Committee, Jonathan Beitner is well-versed in the statistics that show that lawyers, in comparison to other professions, suffer disproportionately high rates of anxiety, depression, mental health issues, substance abuse, and even suicide. The training that Jonathan provides regarding recognizing the warning signs, and knowing how to intercede, monitor, and refer people to resources and specialists, should be taken by anyone who manages or works with teams of lawyers. It is an important topic that not only can move the needle forward in promoting greater health & wellness within the legal profession, it can also save lives.
Keikoh Park
Americas Region Ethics & Compliance Officer
CBRE, INC.
I partnered with Jonathan at the University of Michigan Law School to host a program for students on attorney well-being. The session (“Understanding and Avoiding Ten Common Thinking Errors”) was incredibly informative and effective. Jonathan is an engaging speaker, and he introduced concepts and strategies that many students were unfamiliar with – yet exploring these ideas at an early stage of their careers is essential. The program was highly interactive, and Jonathan made students feel comfortable asking delicate questions or sharing their own experiences with the group. Moreover, Jonathan was very responsive to feedback: We communicated frequently ahead of the session, and he quickly solicited my thoughts once the session ended. I’m so appreciative of his talents and of his passion for these topics.
Bayrex Marti
Dean of Student Affairs
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW SCHOOL
Jonathan presented his “Four Ways to Build Resilience” training to the Chicago legal aid community, including frontline attorneys and staff. As you might imagine, these folks have chosen a career that is extremely challenging from a mental health standpoint and they know all the usual “well-being tips,” though whether they can find the time to implement them is another story. In contrast, Jonathan’s presentation was well-tailored to their needs and provided concrete, actionable items for them to implement in their daily lives. Jonathan does an excellent job making the material enjoyable and impactful, including explaining how much of attorney well-being challenges are rooted in the profession itself and how to overcome that mindset. We’ve already recommended Jonathan to our legal aid and court partners for ongoing training and will continue to do so!
Angela Inzano
Director of Advocacy & Engagement
CHICAGO BAR FOUNDATION
