Madison, Wisconsin — Jessa Victor, a shareholder with Hawks Quindel, S.C., recently joined fellow legal professionals at the State Bar of Wisconsin’s 2026 Annual Meeting & Conference in La Crosse, where she took part in a session focused on a serious issue facing lawyers: what happens when problems inside or outside the practice threaten a lawyer’s ability to keep working.

Victor participated in the session, “What Could Go Wrong? Lawyer Strategies for Surviving Practice-Threatening Problems,” on June 11 as part of the conference’s Thursday afternoon programming. The session brought together lawyers and a mental health professional to discuss challenges that can affect lawyers personally and professionally, along with practical ways to respond when those challenges become difficult to manage.

Jessa Victor Brings Experience to Lawyer Wellness Discussion

Victor is a shareholder in Hawks Quindel’s Madison office and focuses her legal practice on employee benefits. She represents individuals, plan participants, claimants, and beneficiaries in disputes involving disability, health, life insurance, retirement and pension benefits, and other employee benefit matters.

Her practice also includes ERISA litigation and appeals, Wisconsin Retirement System disputes, and disability retirement benefits. Her work often involves people dealing with major changes in their lives, giving her firsthand experience with the pressures that can accompany significant personal and financial challenges.

Victor has built her practice around keeping clients informed and involved in their cases. That client-centered approach also fits closely with her broader interest in lawyer well-being and professional responsibility.

State Bar Session Focuses on Practice-Threatening Problems

The Annual Meeting & Conference session took a practical look at challenges that can affect lawyers and their practices. Rather than treating lawyer wellness as separate from professional responsibilities, the discussion considered how personal struggles can become practice problems and why recognizing warning signs early can matter.

The State Bar’s conference materials point to research showing that lawyers can face significant rates of trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use, and burnout. These problems can affect more than a lawyer’s personal life. They may also influence judgment, client relationships, work performance, and the ability to maintain a healthy practice.

The session was designed to give lawyers strategies for dealing with difficult situations before those problems create more serious professional consequences.

Victor’s Work Extends Beyond the Courtroom

Victor’s involvement in lawyer wellness and community service extends beyond her legal practice. She serves on the Wisconsin Lawyer Assistance Program committee and is a board member of NAMI Wisconsin.

She has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School, where she teaches employee benefits law. Through these roles, Victor has continued to contribute to both the legal profession and the broader community.

Her professional background gives her a unique perspective on the importance of recognizing challenges early and finding appropriate support.

A Career Built Around Service and Endurance

Victor’s interests outside the office also reflect her focus on preparation, persistence, and endurance. She is an experienced distance runner and outdoor enthusiast who competed in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials.

She also completed an Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2017 and has competed as an ultramarathoner. In addition, she coaches cross country and track at Madison East High School.

Those experiences provide an interesting connection to the subject of the State Bar session. Long-distance running and legal practice both require preparation, patience, and the ability to recognize when a change in approach is needed.

For lawyers facing professional or personal challenges, knowing when to slow down, seek assistance, or bring in additional support can be an important part of maintaining a sustainable practice.

Why Lawyer Well-Being Matters to Legal Practices

Lawyers routinely handle demanding clients, complicated cases, strict deadlines, and decisions that can have lasting consequences. The pressure can become difficult when personal problems are added to an already demanding workload.

Practice-threatening problems may not always appear suddenly. They can develop through prolonged stress, burnout, personal difficulties, or professional pressure. Recognizing those signs early can give lawyers an opportunity to take action before the situation affects clients or the practice.

Victor’s participation in the State Bar session helped bring attention to that issue while giving legal professionals an opportunity to discuss practical ways of responding to difficult circumstances.

About the 2026 State Bar Annual Meeting & Conference

The 2026 State Bar of Wisconsin Annual Meeting & Conference brought more than 375 judges, lawyers, exhibitors, and other members of the legal community to La Crosse for three days of continuing legal education, networking, and professional discussion.

Victor’s session was part of a broader conference program covering issues relevant to Wisconsin’s legal community. Her participation added another perspective to discussions about the realities of practicing law and the importance of maintaining both professional and personal well-being.

About Jessa Victor

Jessa Victor is a shareholder at Hawks Quindel, S.C., with offices in Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, Appleton, and Waukesha. Her practice focuses on employee benefits, disability insurance, ERISA litigation, retirement benefits, and related matters.

Victor is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and before several federal courts. She earned her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and her B.A. from Marquette University.