An Interview with Ashleigh Frankel for Mental Health Month, 2025.
At Caravel, we recognize that the legal profession is both demanding and deeply human. For Mental Health Month 2025, we sat down with Ashleigh Frankel—legal counsel practicing in association with Caravel Law and the Co-Founder of The WiseMind Co.—to explore the connection between resilience, well-being, and what she calls the “rest ethic.”
Ashleigh brings a unique dual perspective to this conversation: a seasoned legal professional and a passionate advocate for cultivating healthy, sustainable work cultures. Her journey through burnout and recovery is both personal and widely relatable across the legal industry.
Finding Purpose at the Intersection of Law and Well-Being
Ashleigh, what sparked your passion for the intersection of law and well-being?
“I experienced burnout and debilitating anxiety while practicing law – an experience that invited me to confront how unsustainable the pace and pressure had become. As I began to work on the inner strengths that support well-being – like self-awareness, boundaries, and nervous system regulation – I noticed something unexpected: those same skills didn’t just help me feel better, they helped me work better… Since then, I’ve been committed to raising the bar on well-being in the legal profession as a foundation for sustainable success.”
What Is the Rest Ethic and Why Does It Matter?
The idea of a “rest ethic” feels both radical and intuitive. What does it mean to you?
“To me, rest ethic is the belief that rest is not a reward for hard work but rather a core ingredient in doing good work over the long term… For lawyers, whose value is often measured by hours and output, rest ethic doesn’t compete with work ethic—it sustains it.”
Ashleigh describes rest ethic not just as a mindset, but as a daily practice—one that redefines productivity and success.
The Barriers to Rest—and How Lawyers Can Begin to Overcome Them
What prevents lawyers from embracing rest?
“Perfectionism, billable hour targets, and a culture of overwork… Many lawyers also express struggles with boundary-setting, making it difficult to disconnect mentally and physically, even outside of working hours.”
Ashleigh emphasizes that rest doesn’t need to be time-consuming. Even small actions can make a big difference:
- Give yourself permission to rest—you’re refueling, not failing.
- Take a 60-second pause between meetings.
- Practice single-tasking—do one thing at a time and let it be enough.
- Enjoy a moment of pleasure—joy is restorative, too.
- Step away from screens and look out the window.
- Reach out to a friend or colleague.
- Create “phone free” time.
- Do one thing slowly—like sipping coffee or washing your hands.
- Get a few minutes of fresh air.
“Start with one or two that resonate with you. What matters most is consistency, not perfection.”
How Rest Fuels Resilience
We often hear that resilience is about pushing through. Ashleigh offers a different take.
“Resilience isn’t about pushing through at all costs—it’s about recovery. Rest restores our capacity to think strategically, manage stress, and stay emotionally steady under pressure.”
In other words, rest isn’t a retreat from high performance—it’s a prerequisite for it. Lawyers who build in recovery time aren’t stepping back. Instead, they’re setting themselves up to lead, serve, and show up more effectively.
The Role of Law Firms in Cultivating Rest Ethic
How can firms support this shift?
“Law firms can start by normalizing micro-rest… Leaders can model this by starting team calls with a moment to breathe or simply taking a couple of minutes to check-in with how people are feeling, encouraging short breaks after intense focused work sessions.”
Small changes, like discouraging back-to-back meetings or allowing for a short break, send a clear signal: rest is not only allowed; it’s encouraged.
Not All Rest Is Created Equal
What kinds of rest should lawyers be thinking about?
Ashleigh points to Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith’s framework from Sacred Rest, highlighting that restoration comes in many forms. For lawyers, three types of rest are especially impactful:
- Mental rest: Pausing problem-solving, even briefly, can restore focus.
- Emotional rest: Spaces where you don’t have to perform or be the expert.
- Sensory rest: Reducing stimulation by stepping away from screens and noise.
“When we talk about rest ethic, we’re really talking about building a practice of restoration and recovery… A helpful guiding question is: Is this nourishing, or is this numbing?”
A Final Word for Lawyers
For those who know they need to embrace rest but aren’t sure where to start, Ashleigh leaves us with this:
“You don’t have to earn your rest. In fact, rest is what allows you to show up with clarity, purpose, and presence. Your wellbeing isn’t a luxury—it’s a professional asset.”
At Caravel, we believe that a healthy, sustainable legal practice is not only possible; it’s essential. This Mental Health Month, we’re proud to amplify voices like Ashleigh’s, reminding us that rest is not an obstacle to success, but its foundation.