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Lawyers can be voluble and prolific publishers of handbooks, guides, and treatises on mental health law, witness trauma, workplace addiction, outcomes of personal injury, etc. — all from the perspective of lawyer as clinician. But when it comes to personal wellness among lawyers themselves, the silence is deafening and largely unpublished. Search our catalog for “mental health” and you’ll see proof of this. Dozens of titles deal with mental health through the lawyer’s lens. We found barely one book on our shelves showing lawyers through the lens of mental health. And it’s sandwiched, shockingly, between works on liability for malpractice and professional misconduct. This aged collection of symposium papers from 1995, titled Health and Wellness for Lawyers, includes former Justice Frank lacobucci’s call to action in light of stats (recent at the time) showing nearly one-third of US attorneys suffer alcoholism, depression, or drug use in some form. Nearly 25 years later, the good work of the Law Society of BC’s Mental Health Task Force echoes this lament and underscores how little we’ve learned in the intervening years. If anything, substance and alcohol use is even higher. And our evidence is still extrapolated from the US. The task force’s 2019 Mid-Year Report mentions, “Very little comparable research has been undertaken in Canada, resulting in a dearth of knowledge about the wellness of Canadian lawyers.” We sincerely hope this changes, and that we can collectively reduce the stigma of mental health issues and add more literature alongside Mr. Iacobucci’s writings from a quarter century ago… and also move them to a better, more dignified neighbourhood within our collection.
CLEBC Update
lawyers throughout her career, particularly regarding Indigenous laws and Truth and Reconciliation.
2019 LEADERS IN LEARNING AWARD: Ardith Walpetko We’dalx Walkem, QC
Ardith has contributed prolifically to CLEBC by lending her time and expertise to numerous programs, publishing papers, and even leading training sessions for CLEBC staff and Board members. Her first CLEBC project involved co-chairing the first Indigenous Legal Orders and the Common Law conference, which brought together leaders of Indigenous nations and judges from all levels of court — a first in British Columbia. With the support of LSBC and CLEBC, she produced the powerful short film “But I Was Wearing A Suit” which was presented at
Once every two years, CLEBC honours extraordinary individuals for their contribution to the enhancement of learning in the BC legal community with the Leaders in Learning Award. This year’s recipient, Ardith Walpetko We’dalx Walkem, QC, has demonstrated incredible commitment to mentorship, role modeling, and delivering learning opportunities to
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the Law Society of BC’s Truth and Reconciliation Symposium. Beyond her many contributions, CLEBC staff say that Ardith works tirelessly to produce excellent programs and services to the legal profession. She is patient and kind, and always says “yes” to working on projects that are important to her, all while running her law firm, “Cedar and Sage Law Corporation.” It is with great pleasure that CLEBC presents the 2019 Leaders in Learning Award to Ardith Walpetko We’dalx Walkem, QC.
