It is a rare individual who dedicates the majority of their career to leading a State Bar. After 31 years of wholehearted service to the legal profession in North Carolina, Alice Mine will step down from her role as executive director of the North Carolina State Bar on December 31, 2024. Her retirement marks the end of a remarkable chapter in the Bar’s history, during which Alice played a pivotal role in championing attorney well-being initiatives.
Under her encouragement and leadership, the North Carolina State Bar embraced a holistic approach to supporting attorneys, recognizing the importance of mental health, resilience, and overall well-being. Her efforts have helped to transform the culture of the profession in the state and also set an example for the legal community nationwide. Last fall, I had the joy of talking with Alice to capture some of her reflections about her career and her decision to retire at the end of the year.
Laura: You’ve been a champion for the well-being of the attorneys and judges in our Bar for over three decades. I’m curious how your own well-being is playing a role in your decision to retire?
Alice: My decision to retire was the result of a careful process of discernment. A big part of my decision was anchored in wanting to enjoy life with my husband while we have the time and energy to do so. Over the past few years, he has been battling cancer. While he’s healthy now, his journey made me ask myself, “What is the best thing I can do for my family?” We’re somewhere between the “go-go years” and the “no-go years,” and I want to ensure that we make the most of this phase before circumstances change.
At the same time, as I reflected on my overall energy level, I realized I was heading toward professional burnout. While I wasn’t putting any less time or thought into my job—I’ve always taken it seriously—I began to feel tired. I noticed that I was becoming more drawn to spending time in my garden or pursuing other interests. This shift in priorities made me realize that I’m ready to do something different with my life. I knew that I didn’t want to reach a point where I was burned out and unable to give my best to the Bar or to myself. I realized that I want to be fully present for my family and for the life I want to live beyond my career. Retirement feels like the right step to ensure that I can do that.
Laura: I’m curious how you foresee your relationship with your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health changing as you move into retirement?
Alice: That’s a big question mark for me right now; it’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about as I move into this next phase of life. I think there’s a real need to prepare for retirement, otherwise it can feel like falling off a cliff. Without some preparation, it’s easy to get lost once the structure of work is gone. I’ve been reading a book called The Inner Work of Age by Connie Zweig, which talks about the transition from “role” to “soul” as we age. Zweig, now in her 70s, discusses how much of our identity is tied to the roles we play—whether that’s being a lawyer, educator, or leader. For me, it’s been my role as a lawyer and an executive. The inner work of aging, though, is about releasing those roles and discovering who you are on a deeper, spiritual level. It’s about embracing the idea of being an elder, and stepping into a role where you guide the next generation, sharing your experience and wisdom. That’s the direction I foresee myself moving in emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.
Physically, I have a more practical goal—I’d really like to get back to the gym! After years of a busy schedule, I’m hoping to have the time and space to focus more on my physical health and get into a consistent routine again. It’s something I’ve missed and look forward to in retirement.
Laura: Looking back, what are some of the reasons that you believe that the North Carolina State Bar is on the front edge of attorney, judicial, and law school student well-being?
Alice: One of the key reasons North Carolina’s Bar is at the forefront of well-being leadership is the open-minded and forward-thinking approach we’ve taken toward wellness over time as an organization. The Bar has adopted a “problem-solving mindset” that has allowed us to support innovative ideas around well-being. For example, leaders like former State Bar President Cressie Thigpen set a strong precedent by acknowledging that well-being is not just a side issue, but an essential part of the Bar’s responsibility to its members. This leadership laid the foundation for well-being to become a core priority in our work as demonstrated by the mental health CLE requirement (now called the “professional well-being” or PWB CLE hour) adopted during Cressie’s presidency over 25 years ago.
Another critical area where we’ve seen this leadership in action is within the North Carolina State Bar Grievance Committee. When the committee reviews allegations of lawyer misconduct, it’s often clear that there’s a mental health component involved in many of the cases. Rather than just focusing on punitive measures, the committee has taken an open-minded approach, recognizing the relationship between well-being and misconduct. This has been pivotal in reframing how we support lawyers who are struggling. It highlights the Bar’s understanding of the importance of addressing mental health issues as a core tenant in maintaining professional competency.
A more recent example is the adoption of rules by the State Bar Council at its November 1, 2024, meeting that, if approved by the Supreme Court, will create within the grievance process a self-directed deferral program. This process will enable a lawyer accused of certain types of misconduct to obtain a deferral of a grievance if the lawyer takes an active role in finding solutions to the lawyer’s ethical and professional challenges. It’s a growth-mindset approach that empowers attorneys to engage with their own mental health and well-being proactively, rather than passively going through a disciplinary process. This shift demonstrates that the Bar is committed to fostering not only accountability, but also personal growth and rehabilitation for its members.
Laura: What are some of the most significant changes that you’ve seen in your tenure at the North Carolina State Bar around the concept of well-being in our profession?
Alice: Over the course of my tenure at the Bar, I’ve seen a significant evolution in how we approach well-being within the legal profession. Initially, the focus was primarily on addressing alcoholism through the creation of the Positive Action for Lawyers (PALS) program, which was a volunteer 12-step initiative designed to help attorneys struggling with addiction. Over time, there was a recognition that we needed to formalize this program within the State Bar, acknowledging that issues like alcoholism directly impact an attorney’s ability to practice law. In 1994, PALS (now called the Lawyer Assistance Program or LAP) became a department within the State Bar with paid staff; it was the beginning of the sustained and meaningful focus on what we now call “well-being” in the profession.
However, as time went on, it became clear that focusing solely on alcoholism was too narrow a scope. There was a growing realization that the concept of “fitness to practice law” needed to encompass more than just sobriety—it had to include mental health, addressing issues like anxiety and depression. This led to an expansion of the program to include broader mental health concerns. A critical first step was not only creating and staffing these programs, but also giving them the financial resources they needed to truly make an impact.
The next major shift came when we invited LAP volunteers to waive their anonymity and share their personal stories with the members of local district bars. This opened up a much-needed dialogue. After seeing the impact of this dialogue on Bar members, State Bar President Thigpen advocated for every lawyer in the state to be exposed to mental health and addiction issues through mandatory CLEs. His push led to a groundbreaking change when the CLE Board and the State Bar Council adopted the requirement for mental health education, ensuring that every attorney in the state receives training on these critical issues.
More recently, we’ve seen a proactive shift in how we approach well-being. People like myself started advocating for CLE credit not just for programs that educate on recognizing mental health and addiction issues and intervention, but also for programs that address the stress that leads to these issues for lawyers—in other words, CLE programs that focus on prevention. For example, teaching lawyers the tools to stay healthy and avoid mental health or addiction problems before they arise. The CLE Board embraced this idea wholeheartedly, and this was a sea change. Instead of waiting until attorneys were in crisis, we began to focus on cultivating well-being from the start. With the support of leaders like Robynn Moraites, the director of the LAP, we’ve moved toward a more holistic understanding of professional wellness. One example of this is the name change to “Professional Well-Being Credit,” which puts a positive, preventative spin on the concept. It is hoped that this change in focus will help ensure that lawyers are equipped with the tools they need to maintain both personal and professional resilience.
Laura: Can you share some of the things that you personally have done that have advanced the awareness and importance of well-being for North Carolina lawyers, judges, and law school students during your tenure?
Alice: Overall, I believe my openness to the idea that well-being directly ties into competency has helped advance the awareness and importance of mental health for North Carolina lawyers, judges, and law students. By embracing these initiatives, we’ve been able to expand support networks and integrate well-being into the fabric of our profession.
I’ve always believed in fostering new ideas and ensuring that we have the resources available to implement them. I hope this way of approaching problems has helped to advance the conversation around mental health and well-being within our profession. One of the key things I’ve focused on during my tenure has been maintaining an open-minded, problem-solving approach, particularly when it comes to well-being in the legal profession. For example, when people like Robynn came to me with creative ideas—such as extending well-being initiatives to law school students—I was immediately supportive.
As a leader, I’ve also made it a priority to connect the concept of well-being with the Bar’s mandate around fitness and competency. We often talk about Rule 1.1, which is all about ensuring that attorneys are competent. From my perspective, well-being is an essential part of that competency. If an attorney isn’t mentally or physically well, their ability to serve their clients and uphold their professional duties can be compromised. This belief has been a driving force behind my support for initiatives aimed at enhancing well-being. My role has been to help create an environment where these ideas can be brought to life, and where well-being is recognized as a key component of professional fitness.
Laura: Unfortunately, after we first discussed this article, Hurricane Helene wrought destruction across western North Carolina. What do you anticipate its impact will be on the mental health and well-being of attorneys in Asheville, other western communities, and across the state?
Alice: At this juncture, it is hard to say what exactly the impact will be. It will take a lot of compassion, resources, support, and understanding to help the lawyers in the affected communities rebuild their personal lives, their law practices and, equally important, their sense of security, their hope, and their well-being. The LAP is already working on resources and referrals to help lawyers in the western parts of our state. Lawyers in the rest of the state—including myself—are also experiencing grief for the loss of so much in our beloved North Carolina mountains, and there is also survivor’s guilt over the reality that our professional colleagues and friends experienced so much trauma and loss while our lives went on as normal. The impact of both forms of grief and loss on the collective mental health of the members of the Bar must be carefully considered and addressed for many years to come. For those of us who were out of harm’s way, I strongly recommend reaching out to our colleagues in the west to offer compassion, support, and help with rebuilding—whether actual rebuilding of offices, providing office equipment, or even legal resources when there is not a conflict. Most importantly, when a lawyer who lives or works in the disaster area is opposing counsel, we can grant that lawyer the grace of understanding, compassion, and additional time or other appropriate accommodations in the legal matter.
Laura: Looking ahead, what is your hope for the future of the emphasis on well-being and improved mental health in our field and for our Bar?
Alice: My hope for the future of well-being and mental health in our profession is that we continue to move forward and not backtrack—and this is particularly true in light of the anticipated impact of Hurricane Helene on lawyers throughout the state.
One of the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic was the shift in how we approach work-life balance. It gave us permission to work remotely when needed and allowed for more flexibility in organizing our work and personal lives. This adaptability has been a gift, as it enables individuals to take care of both their professional responsibilities and personal well-being in a more balanced way.
We’ve also made tremendous progress in taking ourselves a little less seriously and embracing a more relaxed, human approach to the practice of law. Early in my time at the State Bar, programs like PALS and then the LAP were often viewed as shameful or something to avoid. People didn’t want to admit they needed help. Now, the majority of referrals to the LAP are self-referrals, which marks a huge decline in stigma around seeking support for mental health and well-being. This shift is incredibly promising.
What excites me most is seeing the newer generation of lawyers openly embracing their mental health without the fear of stigma. It’s become more normalized for lawyers to prioritize their well-being, and that’s a huge cultural shift that I hope continues to grow. There’s a recognition that maintaining mental health is part of being a competent and effective legal professional.
If I could wave a magic wand and change one thing about our profession as it relates to well-being, it would be to ensure that every attorney, regardless of their experience or position, feels empowered to prioritize their mental health without hesitation or judgment. I want to see well-being fully integrated into how we define competency and professionalism in law, so it’s not just something we talk about, but something we actively live by every day.
Laura: Alice, as you step into retirement, I want to personally thank you for your many contributions to attorney wellness in North Carolina which will undoubtedly endure. I’m grateful for your forward-thinking vision that supported the initiation of this column in 2016, and the myriad of ways that your forward-thinking mind has not only transformed how the legal profession approaches mental health and wellness, but has also paved the way for future generations of attorneys to thrive both personally and professionally. I will miss your leadership, and I wish you and your family great health and the very best life has to offer in the years to come.
Alice Mine was executive director and secretary-treasurer of the North Carolina State Bar from October 2018 through November 1, 2024. Before joining the State Bar in 1993 as assistant executive director and ethics counsel, she practiced law in Durham, North Carolina, for seven years, concentrating in the areas of employment law and transactions. As assistant executive director and ethics counsel, Ms. Mine was staff counsel to the State Bar Council’s Ethics Committee, director of the Board of Legal Specialization, director of the Board of Continuing Legal Education, and director of the Board of Paralegal Certification. Ms. Mine was an adjunct professor at Duke University School of Law where she taught professional responsibility from 2011 to 2014.
Laura Mahr is a North Carolina and Oregon lawyer and the founder of Conscious Legal Minds LLC, providing well-being consulting, training, and resilience coaching for attorneys and law offices nationwide. Through the lens of neurobiology, Laura helps build strong leaders, happy lawyers, and effective teams. Her work is informed by 13 years of practice as a civil sexual assault attorney, 25 years as a teacher and student of mindfulness and yoga, and eight years studying neurobiology and neuropsychology with clinical pioneers. If you are interested in learning more about Laura’s CLE offerings that grow your team’s confidence and build resilience, contact Laura through consciouslegalminds.com.
