How does free will fit into all of this (our Earth life and the afterlife)?

I don't even understand how free will exists. It seems to me that, ultimately, everything we are, including how we think, is the product of things like our genetics, experiences, and circumstances, and so our will to do and say the things we do is also a product of these things. Is that one of the reasons NDE experiencers often report that they didn't feel judgement (the condescending kind) in the afterlife, even during their life review, from God and from other afterlife beings? I've heard people say they didn't feel this kind of judgement but, at the same time, that's hard to square with people also saying they received critical life reviews and messages from beings on the other side. Are all critical messages you receive over there merely given for instructional purposes? Also, if there is no free will does that mean the purpose of our lives on Earth is purely to add to the Akashic library?