Bethany Allen, a compliance lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright and adjunct professor at Avila University, said on Apr. 2 that expressing gratitude can strengthen the sense of purpose among Missouri lawyers and motivate them to perform at their best. Allen serves on The Missouri Bar’s Standing Committee on Well-Being in the Profession and was a member of The Missouri Bar Leadership Academy’s 2024-2025 class.
Allen said the legal profession often involves demanding and emotionally complex situations, which can lead to high levels of stress, depression, anxiety, and burnout. She noted that supporting mental health is essential for lawyers to serve clients effectively.
“Well-being is not extra. It is foundational to the quality of our legal work,” Allen said.
She explained that practicing gratitude helps release neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which are linked to improved emotional states. Regular expressions of appreciation have been shown by research in organizational psychology to increase workplace engagement, strengthen team cohesion, reduce stress, improve resilience, and lower symptoms of burnout.
The American Bar Association’s 2024 well-being report highlights connection and supportive professional culture as key protective factors against chronic stress and isolation within the legal field.
In this context, The Missouri Bar Standing Committee on Well-Being in the Profession has introduced tear-out “gratitude grams” for lawyers to use in recognizing colleagues, judges, opposing counsel or clients. These notes are intended as part of Well-Being Week in Law from May 4-8—a national initiative by the Institute for Well-Being in Law aimed at raising awareness about lawyer well-being throughout the year.
Allen encouraged lawyers to download a gratitude gram and write a specific note acknowledging someone they appreciate: “A simple note may feel small, but it contributes to something larger. Gratitude strengthens connection, reinforces purpose, and reminds us that none of us practice alone.”
