Throwing out the standard “how are you” script in an effort to move beyond mental health stigma. Identify, consider, align and validate your communication in your personal and professional life when it comes to well-being.

For the past four years, Karen Munoz has been helping lawyers help themselves. The 37-year-old Dolan Law partner is a certified yoga instructor who teaches quarterly free yoga classes for the Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program, a nonprofit organization that helps judges, lawyers, law students and their families with mental health issues.

Munoz’s involvement with LAP is a natural outgrowth. Before she became a lawyer, she wanted to be a psychologist so she could help people.

Illinois Senate President Cullerton will read SR 298 at the Senate Executive Committee hearing in support of the IL Law Schools Mental Health & Wellbeing Pledge. The Pledge, led by the Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program (LAP) was signed unanimously by all 9 Illinois law school SBA Presidents. Each President pledged their support and ask their colleagues, law school administrators, professors, and legal community to recognize and join their efforts.

The LAP Executive Directors Award is given to an individual dedicated to LAP and advancing its mission to Help, Protect, and Educate the legal community about addiction and mental health issues. This year’s recipient, Cecelia Blue, JD, MBA has truly gone above and beyond for LAP in midstate Illinois. In addition to volunteering regularly for on-campus Law School Office Hours, she has conducted several presentations on behalf of LAP and has served as a Peer Support Volunteer for her attorney peers. Click below to read the full feature!