2025 Well-Being Summit
Thursday, February 20 | 5 - 7 p.m.
CLE Program & Networking Reception
Burge Union
Open to the public
The 2025 Well-Being Summit, presented by the University of Kansas School of Law and Washburn University School of Law, will feature Dr. Jeffrey Hall, communications expert and author of “The Social Biome: How Everyday Communication Connects and Shapes Us.” This event will bring together our community to discuss how we can build a meaningful social life, combat workplace loneliness and create meaningful relationships at work and in our personal lives.
This program has been approved in Kansas and Missouri for one hour of CLE ethics and professionalism.
This event includes an interactive and educational networking social open to law students, practitioners and community partners in lawyer well-being.
Speaker
Jeff Hall is a professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas and a faculty associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law. His book, "Relating Through Technology" (Cambridge University Press), was the recipient of several awards and was featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post and CNN. His upcoming book, "The Social Biome" (Yale University Press), with Andy Merolla, explores the complex ways in which our social health and well-being are intertwined. Dr. Hall has written several articles on building friendships and forming meaningful connections for the Wall Street Journal. He is the former Chair of the Human Communication and Technology Division of the National Communication Association, and the current Chair of the Interpersonal Communication Division at the International Communication Association. He is the director of the Relationships and Technology Lab at the University of Kansas and received his Ph.D. from the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Southern California.
Schedule
5 - 6 p.m. | Networking Reception
Enjoy refreshments while networking with other attendees, law firms at the forefront of lawyer well-being and community partners in lawyer well-being.
6 - 7 p.m. | 1-hour CLE | The Social Biome: Cultivating Meaningful Connection at Home and at Work
The workplace is among the most common places to meet friends, and social interactions at work can mitigate loneliness. Yet not all workplaces are conducive to building relationships, and long hours at the office can be a barrier to keeping our social biome in good health. The challenges of loneliness both in and out of the workplace are very real for people of all ages. If no one tends to the social biome of your organization, what can be done? In his talk, Dr. Hall will answer the question, how do you live a meaningful social life both at work and in your leisure time? Dr. Hall will discuss what individuals and organizations should do to combat workplace loneliness and build meaningful relationships at work. When work antagonizes connection, Dr. Hall will explore why the obligation to show care and compassion toward one another through communication is so important.
Cost
The CLE Program & Networking Reception is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
CLE
The 2025 Well-Being Summit CLE Program has been approved for one hour of ethics and professionalism in Kansas and Missouri. Kansas attorneys will need to fill out and return an affidavit at the conclusion of the event for credit to be received. Missouri attorneys will self-report, but attendance will be taken.
Questions about CLE? Contact Crystal Mai, associate dean for administration, at cmai@ku.edu.
Program accessibility
We accommodate persons with disabilities. Please submit your request no later than February 6 to Debbie Schmidt at drschmidt@ku.edu or 785-864-5078, 771 TTY.
Thank you to our sponsors
Bryan Didier, L'04
Martha Hodgesmith, L'78
Stinson LLP
Questions?
Contact Leah Terranova, associate dean of academic and student affairs at leaht@ku.edu.