Thomas Margolis, ESQ.
JD, University of New Hampshire School of Law
BA, University of Wisconsin-Madison (Graduated with Distinction)
MES (Medical Exercise Specialist), Medical Exercise Training Institute
WHY ATTORNEY HEALTH & WELL-BEING CONSULTANTS, LLC WAS CREATED
As an attorney, Thomas understands the challenges that lawyers face, such as high stress, deadlines, adversarial aspects of working within the legal profession, handling difficult clients, long hours, the need to maintain a clear mind to enhance critical thinking and good decision making, lack of free time to optimize personal health goals, physical and psychological issues, as well as difficulties finding healthy opportunities that may improve health and well-being.
Having operated his own business in the fitness and wellness industry for 14 years as a METI (Medical Exercise Training Institute) certified Medical Exercise Specialist and AFAA (Athletics and Fitness Association of America) certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Counselor, Thomas physically trained a wide variety of clientele of all fitness levels, including attorneys, bankers, law enforcement professionals and executives from many different industries. He helped his clients become physically stronger, increase cardiovascular ability, increase flexibility, incorporate healthy dietary habits, lose weight, feel less stressed, feel more confident, have more energy, and just simply feel better in general. Thomas sustained a very large, diverse, and loyal clientele throughout his career in the health and fitness arena as a fitness professional due to his expertise and strong commitment to his clients.
Further, as a Medical Exercise Specialist, Thomas worked with many post-rehabilitation clients helping them to achieve a total body balance in strength and flexibility after traditional physical therapy work related to clients’ issues such as injuries and surgeries, etc.
Recognizing a critical need to address the current health crises facing attorneys and legal professionals throughout the country, Thomas decided to contribute his considerable experience and expertise in the health and wellness field for the benefit of his colleagues. Thus, Attorney Health & Well-Being Consultants, LLC was created. Thomas currently offers services which combine his health and well-being skills, time-honored and tested problem-solving abilities, proven talent to motivate others, and his overall experience and knowledge from working as a fitness professional with his experience and understanding of what it is like to navigate the legal profession as an attorney, to assist attorneys who would like to improve their overall health and well-being.
Due to his extensive knowledge in the health and wellness field, Thomas has been a featured author in Club Industry, the country’s most trusted media source for fitness business professionals. Club Industry sought out Thomas’ expertise for educational features regarding risk mitigation in health clubs.
As an additional interesting fact, Thomas garnered unique international legal experience living and working in Moscow, Russia on a very important international project. While in Russia, Thomas worked with the Deputy Director and other legal professionals of the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative on a groundbreaking, countrywide program. Attorney Margolis’ extensive legal research was reviewed by a special committee of Russian academics, law scholars, law professors, judges, and attorneys. This unprecedented program culminated with the publication of the Professional Ethics Manual (2009), the first of its kind compendium regarding professional rules and ethics for Russian lawyers.
Attorney Health & Well-Being Consultants, LLC
Born out of the need to educate, support, provide expertise, guidance, and accountability to the many individuals (attorneys, judges, mediators, paralegals, etc.), law firms, law schools (students and professors) as well as associated companies and organizations to help facilitate healthier and more fulfilling personal lives within a more positive and flourishing professional culture.
A Fresh Solution
to the Dilemma of Achieving Work/Life Balance
Part of the solution is in the perception of what work/life balance means. Many think it is spending relatively equal time between work and other life pursuits. But busy attorneys know all too well that such a balance is not attainable. Thus, many attorneys dismiss the notion of work/life balance as an unobtainable cliche. The reality of achieving work/life balance is really about blending and integrating meaningful daily achievements at work with relaxing and enjoyable activities with family, friends, as well as personal interests.
Ultimately, the work/life balance is achieved as the culmination of attainable incremental steps that incorporate action, which can be done at work or at home, at almost any time.
THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PROBLEM FACING THOSE PRACTICING LAW
When the Report of the Virginia State Bar President’s Special Committee on Lawyer Well-Being entitled “The Occupational Risks of the Practice of Law” (May, 2019) was released, the daunting statistics and overall gloomy tone of the report came as no surprise to Thomas.
The report details the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs, as well as the Hazelton Betty Ford Foundation survey of thousands of practicing attorneys and law students. What emerges from the report is a very clear picture of the many risks associated with working in the legal profession. These risks include, but are not limited to:
- Psychological/Emotional issues such as relatively high rates of depression and anxiety.
- Physical issues associated with the sedentary nature of legal work such as obesity, chronic pain, heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and high cholesterol – just to name a few.
- Reduction in cognitive functioning including changes in the structure and function of the brain, memory loss, decrease in cognitive learning capabilities, decrease in problem-solving and decision-making skills, fatigue, and dementia – to name a few.
- Attempts at self-medication including drug addiction, binge drinking, and alcoholism.
Consequently, seeing a great and immediate need to help his colleagues in the legal profession, Thomas decided to offer services which combine his health and well-being skills, time-honored and tested problem-solving abilities, proven talent to motivate others, and his overall experience and knowledge from working as a fitness professional with his experience and understanding of what it is like to navigate the legal profession as an attorney – from law school to actual law practice.