Michael S. Stein Discussed Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C.’s New Sabbatical Program at the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee’s Fourth Annual Attorney Well-Being Program
Michael S. Stein, chair and managing partner of Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C., presented on Thursday, May 28 at the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee’s Fourth Annual Attorney Well-Being Program. The program featured judges and attorneys from diverse practice settings who shared practical strategies for promoting well-being and work-life balance in the legal profession, including approaches to supporting colleagues, setting sustainable expectations, and fostering healthier workplace cultures. Other panelists included Acting Administrative Director Michael J. Blee, Ocean Vicinage Family Judge Laurie C. Poppe, and Bergen Deputy Public Defender Johnny Cardona. The event started with opening remarks by retired Associate Justice Lee A. Solomon, who chairs the Committee, with Special Assistant Jessica Lewis Kelly serving as moderator.
Stein discussed Pashman Stein’s firm-wide Sabbatical program launched in 2026, which offers full time employees—attorneys and support staff alike—the opportunity to take a fully paid, six‑week sabbatical every five years, complete with full benefits and billable‑hour credit. Stein explained that the Sabbatical Program was one of many initiatives implemented over the years that align with the firm’s culture and commitment to work-life balance. Other initiatives include hybrid work schedules, reduced minimum billable guidelines, parental leave policies on par with AmLaw firms, and the establishment of the Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center to encourage pro bono and public interest work.
The hybrid event took place at the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton, New Jersey and online via Zoom.
To read more about the event, click here.
To read more about Pashman Stein’s firmwide sabbatical program, click here.
Stein also participated in a CLE panel on June 16 sponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Association titled, “The Weight of the Work – Navigating Mental Health, Ethics, and Client Representation.” To learn more, click here.
