The Case for Self-Care
A Personal Journey from Cultural Stigma to Legal Wellness
by Abigail Dean, Esq. Hamilton Price, P. A. CDI Member-at-Large
September marks National Self-Care Awareness Month— a timely invitation for legal professionals to reflect, reset, and prioritize personal well-being. For many attorneys, the concept of self-care feels like a luxury we can’ t afford. But for me, it was once something I didn’ t even recognize as necessary— let alone permissible.
I grew up in a Caribbean-American household, with both of my parents born and raised in Jamaica. In our home, the idea of taking time for oneself wasn’ t just discouraged— it was seen as selfish. Like many from Caribbean or immigrant households, the culture I was raised in emphasized hard work, duty, and resilience. You pushed through exhaustion. You didn’ t stop. You didn’ t complain. Rest was reserved for the elderly— or the weak.
So, I entered adulthood and college without a self-care toolkit. I didn’ t know how to set boundaries, how to pause, or even how to identify emotional exhaustion. I prided myself on juggling multiple responsibilities without rest, mistaking burnout for achievement.
It wasn’ t until law school that I was forced to confront the limits of this mindset. The rigors of legal education— especially at a place like Stetson University College of Law— brought me face to face with the mental, emotional, and physical toll of operating on empty. Suddenly, I couldn’ t just“ push through.” I was anxious. I was tired. I was overwhelmed. And for the first time, I was encouraged to do something about it.
Law school introduced me to the idea that mental health and legal excellence are not mutually exclusive— they are intertwined. During my law school journey, I had the privilege of serving as an intern in the Journey to Esquire program. Through programs like Journey to Esquire, I began to unlearn harmful narratives about rest and well-being, and it changed the trajectory of how I saw my role— not just as a future attorney, but as a person. I learned that self-care isn’ t indulgent. It’ s responsible.
That awareness didn’ t leave me when I graduated. Now, as a practicing attorney, I carry those lessons with me— and I actively apply them in my day-to-day practice. Because let’ s be honest: this job can be emotionally taxing and physically draining. The constant pressure to perform, advocate, meet deadlines, respond to emergencies, and be“ on” 24 / 7 can wear even the most resilient professional down.
Self-care doesn’ t always look like spa days or vacations— though those are great when they’ re possible. It’ s easy to associate self-care with luxury, but the truth is that for many of us, especially those in demanding careers like law, self-care is about small, intentional choices we make daily to preserve our energy, mental clarity, and peace of mind. For me, self-care looks like:
• Walking by the beach or in nature— letting silence and beauty soften the weight of the week. Nature has a way of grounding me and giving me perspective. When I take time to disconnect from emails,
28 | THE DOCKET- SEPTEMBER 2025