Health & Wellness

Health and Wellness

At the University of Tennessee College of Law, we are committed to creating a community that promotes and supports wellness and well-being. We believe taking care of yourself goes beyond proper nutrition and exercise—it includes physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

With our commitment to help you maintain your health and wellness, we offer assistance in a number of ways, including: through our in-house clinical therapist; through yoga and meditation led by faculty and staff; through social events hosted by our student organizations; and in workshops on self care, time management and more offered by our career services team.

Beyond the College of Law, the university offers assistance in a number of ways to support your general health, well-being and wellness. 

Health and wellness are multifaceted concepts influenced by your background, life experiences and identities. 

We encourage all members of our community to broadly consider these eight dimensions of wellness – emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, environmental, financial, occupational and social – and to give attention to each dimension to find a personal balance that is authentic to you.

Emotional
Being aware of your feelings, coping effectively with the stress of life and law school, developing resilience and practicing self-care can help you achieve a sense of mental balance and focus.
 
Resources:
Student Wellness Committee
UTK Student Counseling Center

Stress-relieving activities during the school year

Spiritual
If you are a person of faith, seek opportunities to become involved in one of the various faith-based student organizations in the community. If not, you can develop practices like yoga, meditation and mindfulness to help you focus on connection and spirituality. The practice of self-reflection can increase awareness of purpose, meaning and connection in your life. 
 
Resources:
Intellectual
Challenge yourself and allow yourself to be challenged.
 
Resources: 

Academic Success Director Charisse Heath 
College of Law journals
Moot court and trial teams
UT Legal Clinic
UT Pro Bono

Physical
Regular physical activity, healthy eating choices and sufficient sleep are necessary to combat stress. Taking care of your physical health directly impacts your overall resilience and well-being.
 
Resources: 

Student Health Center
RecSports
Camping and outdoor equipment rentals
Smokey’s Pantry

Environmental
Physical surroundings can significantly impact your overall mood and stress level.
 
Resources: 

McClung Museum
Student Union
Knoxville Museum of Art
Campus green spaces and College of Law Patio

Financial
When money is not working for you, it can cause a lot of stress. Financial wellness can be a journey because it takes time to get good with money.
Occupational
Throughout your law school experience, we will partner with you to find work opportunities that enrich your personal and professional life.
 
Resources: 

Bettye B. Lewis Career Center
College of Law faculty and alumni
Externships
UT Legal Clinic

Social
A feeling of community and connection is an important tool in combatting the stress of law school. We pride ourselves on our supportive and collaborative social environment.
 
Resources: 
Course teaching assistants
Peer mentors
Faculty
Student organizations
Student Wellness Committee
Student Bar Association activities
 

Wellness Counselor

The College of Law offers students the opportunity to meet with our dedicated in-house wellness counselor, Myia Makupson. Our counselor works with students to meet needs and address any concerns while preserving your privacy and confidentiality. 

Law students seeking confidential counseling should first complete this form for the university’s Counselor Training Clinic. Someone from the Counselor Training Clinic will first conduct a short intake meeting with you and then direct you to the counselor to schedule an appointment. Contact Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Brad Morgan (rmorgan2@utk.edu) if you have questions about the process or difficulty navigating the intake process.

Additional campus resources are available through:

Center for Health Education & Wellness
Counseling Center
Community Referrals
Crisis Resources
UT Psychological Clinic

Additional Resources

The College of Law is a partner in an initiative of the American Bar Association’s national Mental Health Day. The annual program spotlights the critical importance of our own well-being and offers specific strategies to safeguard student well-being while in law school and through the transition to the real world of law practice.

Find a variety of ABA resources via these links:

Law Student Division Mental Health Resources
Mental Health Toolkit
Essential Mental Health & Wellness Resources
Survey of Law Student Well-Being
National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being
Bazelon Center: Bar Exam Resources for Law Students and Graduates (Character and Fitness)
Well-Being Template for Legal Employers
Well-Being Toolkit for Lawyers and Legal Employers
The Anti-Stigma Campaign
ABA Law Assistance Programs