Navigating Lawyer Well-Being In Times of Global Challenge and Change

***This program has been submitted to the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 3.6 hours of total CLE credit. Of these, 3.6 hours has been submitted for ethics, professionalism, and professional responsibility, of which 1.2 hours has been submitted for credit for diversity, inclusion and elimination of bias. (BCLE Reg. 302:1)

We are living in a country and world that increasingly can be characterized as a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) environment. Since the beginning of this century, we have seemingly been in a period of turmoil and trauma. Disputed elections, mass killings, controversial court decisions, and social/cultural change are many issues that have drawn lines within workplaces, communities, neighborhoods, families, and the legal community.

As lawyers, not only are we spectators to these changes as citizens, but we are also some of the main protagonists in a system that some people see as the source of many of these problems. The reality is this period we are in only seems to be headed in the direction of more change and more uncertainty.

Given this challenge, how do we as lawyers facilitate difficult conversations, lead and interact with people different from us so that we can flourish as lawyers (and humans)? Our ability to individually flourish and experience psychological safety and a sense of belonging in the legal workplace is a value to be embraced. More importantly the creation of such a culture will lead to the attraction, growth, and retention of top talent.

This CLE program will explore two concepts that will assist us in our journey: 1) intercultural competency which will help to manage interpersonal relationships with those different from us; and 2) what it means to flourish as a lawyer through the social/relational domain of well-being. Individuals, teams and organizations will only reach their fullest potential by successfully navigating both concepts.

Five crucial questions will be explored in this CLE:

• What is “VUCA” and why does it matter in relation to the practice of law?
• What is intercultural competency and why does it matter for legal professionals?
• What is well-being and why does it matter for legal professionals?
• What matters most about well-being in a legal workplace setting?
• How can we integrate these concepts to navigate interpersonal differences and flourish within the legal profession?

At the conclusion of this program participants will achieve outcomes in the following areas:

• Participants will have an understanding of VUCA, intercultural competency, and the social/relational domain of well-being.
• Participants will feel empowered regarding their ability to more successfully interact with those who are different from them, become better leaders (of self and others) within diverse settings, and have the ability to thrive in VUCA environments.
• Participants will be able to identify and implement the necessary tasks and steps to develop their own intercultural development and social/relational domain related well-being improvement plans.

Program Developer & Presenter: Cedric Ashley, J.D., M.Div.

Cedric Ashley is a coach, trainer, facilitator, and attorney whose focus is on using scientific research & evidence-based practices to help individuals, teams, and organizations flourish and reach new heights of performance and fulfillment. Cedric obtained his B.A. and J.D. from Rutgers University and his Master of Divinity degree from Drew University Theological School. Cedric is currently pursuing an M.A. In Happiness Studies at Centenary University with a graduation date of May 2025.

Cedric graduated from the Executive Facilitation Program in the Institute for Transformational Leadership within the School of Continuing Studies at Georgetown University; and from the Leadership Coaching for Organizational Well-Being Program from the George Mason University - Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Cedric is also certified in Mental Health First Aid by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

From 2019 to 2021 Cedric served as the Editor-in-Chief of the American Bar Association (ABA) GPSolo Magazine, where he regularly authored a column titled: “BLT – Balanced Life Theory,” that focused on life balance, resilience, and well-being. Cedric also served as the Diversity Director of the ABA GP Solo Division for the 2017-2018 bar year and Chair of the Diversity Board for the 2015-2017 bar years. Cedric also served as the Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association for the 2017- 2019 bar years, and Co-Chair of the Law Office Management Committee for the 2017 – 2019 bar year. Cedric previously served on the communications committee of the board of directors for the Institute for Well-Being in the Law, and as a member of the Lawyer Well-Being Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Cedric’s legal experience includes being a sole practitioner (Ashley Law Firm) in Princeton, New Jersey concentrating in business, employment, and criminal litigation; serving as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office where his responsibilities encompassed all phases of criminal litigation, including grand jury presentations, trials, and appellate brief writing; serving as a Litigation Associate with the law firm of Pitney Hardin Kipp & Szuch LLP (now Day Pitney LLP) where his practice areas encompassed corporate and complex commercial litigation, internal investigations, corporate grand jury investigations, and white-collar criminal defense; and serving as Director of Academic Development at Rutgers Law School-Newark.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cedricashley/

Host or Publisher Cedric Ashley, JD, M.Div., ACC