In a profession that demands your all, you deserve to be whole. This year’s Institute prioritizes the lawyer as a person first and provides restorative experiences and resources to inspire renewal, kindness, and service. Through conversations with experts and peers, the program explores themes of well-being and identity, reclaiming confidence and self-trust, how firms can better support their people, and the ways serving others can strengthen personal well-being.
Set against the inspiring backdrop of Wolf Trap—the only national park dedicated to the performing arts—this year’s program offers enriching continuing legal education and interactive sessions on nutrition, sleep, meditation, and movement.
The 2026 Institute
Serving the Whole Person
Schedule
4.0 MCLE Credits Anticipated
Monday, May 4
7:45 a.m. Registration and Breakfast
8:20 a.m. Opening Remarks
8:30 a.m. Keynote CLE — Attorney Well-Being, Indentity, and Kindness (1.0 MCLE)
Justice William C. Mimms, former chair of the Supreme Court of Virginia’s Lawyers’ Wellness Initiative
9:30 a.m. Break
9:45 a.m. Panel 1 — Imposter Syndrome and Its Impact on the Profession (1.0 MCLE)
Hetal Challa, Esq., Wellness Coordinator, Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia
Barbara Mardigan, Clinical Director, VJLAP
Charlene Reilly, Assistant Director and Education and Outreach Manager, VJLAP
10:45 a.m. Break
11:00 p.m. Panel 2 — Doing Good to Feel Good: Well-being through Pro Bono (1.0 MCLE)
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Panel 3 — Designing a Work Culture that Supports Attorneys (1.0 MCLE)
Jennifer Ligon, WilliamsMullen
Rebecca Geller, Geller Law Group
Jesse Gordon, ReavesCon Group
Professor Christopher Corts, University of Richmond School of Law
2:00 p.m. Break
Wellness, Your Way
Build your personalized wellness experience by choosing two elective sessions
from four foundational areas: meditation, movement, nutrition, and sleep.
Leanne Cusumano Roque, Certified Yoga Therapist, International Association of Yoga Therapists
Amy Christenson, Nama Strength Training
Sri Giridharan, Founder, Prana Kitchens
Jessica Riggs, MD, Virginia Heart
2:15 p.m. Elective Session 1
3:15 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Elective Session 2
4:30 p.m. Closing Remarks
4:40 p.m. Adjourn
Breaks at the Institute
During all breaks, attendees will have access to mandala and stress resources
as well as the opportunity to explore the restorative grounds of Wolf Trap.