At the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, a group wellness coaching workshop has been introduced to support student wellbeing and professional development. The eight-week program, launched in 2023 and offered each semester, is available to all law students with priority for those in their final year.
The initiative was developed by Dean for Students Angie D’Agostino and Adjunct Professor Lauren H. Breslow, who is a nationally certified health and wellness coach. Funding comes from the Dean of Students Office. The goal is to move beyond temporary wellness activities toward lasting behavioral change.
“Our aim was to create something deeper and more durable than a one-time program,” said Dean D’Agostino. “We wanted students to leave with an awareness of their own personal wellbeing and concrete skills and tools they can carry with them not only through law school, but into their professional lives.”
The workshop uses evidence-based strategies focused on reflection, individualized goals, and accountability. It encourages participants to define what wellbeing means for themselves.
“Wellness in this context isn’t about achieving perfection,” said Adjunct Professor Lauren Breslow. “It’s about cultivating self-compassion, making intentional choices, and building habits that support focus, motivation, and resilience over time.”
Research shows that many law students report feeling exhausted or anxious during the academic year—a challenge mirrored across the legal profession. Both the American Bar Association and New York State Bar Association have called on law schools to make wellbeing a core part of legal education. In response, some schools have added short-term initiatives such as mindfulness sessions or courses on professional responsibility.
“Many schools, including Pace Haub Law, have responded with professional responsibility courses, drop-in mindfulness sessions, and other short-term initiatives,” said Professor Breslow. “Seeking to go further, the Dean for Students Office set out to pioneer a more sustained skill-building program to equip students with practical tools and coaching to create lasting wellbeing.”
Students who participated reported positive experiences as they prepared for their legal careers. Gabriela Hasaj ’25 joined during her final year: “I wanted to be intentional about how I approached this next chapter rather than letting it happen to me,” she said. “I knew that having space for reflection and support would help me navigate that transition successfully.” She described leaving the workshop with clearer self-understanding and practical plans for growth.
Hasaj later wrote in The Balance newsletter about how course exercises led her to reconsider digital habits—such as deleting Instagram—and reflect on technology’s impact on focus and connection.
“I think law students and attorneys are exceptionally hard workers… We’re in the people business, and that can mean neglecting our own needs until we’re overwhelmed… This workshop helped me realize that I have to turn the heat down sometimes… When we take care of ourselves, we show up more focused, compassionate, and effective for the people we serve,” Hasaj shared.
Other current students also found value in the program’s approach. Christopher Hulbert appreciated its practicality: “From goal-setting frameworks, breathing techniques, and daily self-focus tools – it all helped me manage stress and build forward momentum.” He noted its importance given lawyers’ higher risk of burnout.
James Robles valued open discussions about law school challenges: “Having time each week to slow down… was incredibly important.” He credited small goal-setting steps with helping him feel less overwhelmed: “This class changed my perspective.”
Professor Breslow concluded: “When students recognize how much control they have over their habits and choices, it’s empowering—and those mindset shifts extend far beyond law school.”
