American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education will present the webcast "The Impaired Lawyer: A Call to Action" on Thursday, December 15, from noon to 1 p.m.
Like many other professionals, attorneys' lives are filled to the brim with anxiety and stress. The consequences of shrugging it off can be catastrophic not only for them but for their family, staff, colleagues, and friends. Similarly, the ramifications of trauma aren't discussed as frequently as those of stress, yet it can be secondary or vicarious. Whether from the cumulative effect of listening to a client or witness relay graphic stories and experiences, a personal loss, or even the grief associated with lost opportunities and unmet expectations due to the cancellation of long planned events, trauma can take a significant toll. Not properly dealing with these stressors can lead to negative coping mechanisms, such as abuse of alcohol and drugs.
With a dramatic increase in impairment due to alcoholism, addiction, and mental health disorders among members of the legal profession, it is believed that 1 out of 3 attorneys will likely have a need for substance use or mental health services at some point in their careers.
In this timely and compelling webcast, an experienced attorney who is also a certified drug and alcohol counselor will explore:
• Early warning signs of impairment, including the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Free services available to lawyers, judges, their family members, and law students.
• Barriers that prevent lawyers and judges from seeking the help they need.
• The role that education plays in breaking the stigma and fear associated with addiction and mental illness in the legal profession.
• How best to approach the impaired individual.
• Ethical considerations regarding the duty to report an impaired attorney and the exceptions granted to Lawyers Assistance Programs.
• Ethical challenges imposed by isolation and its possible long-lasting effect on the legal profession.
This program will help arm attorneys with the statistics, warning signs, and knowledge of how to seek help for themselves or others.
All registrants will receive a set of downloadable course materials to accompany the program.
Cost for the webcast is $99. To register, visit www.ali-cle.org.
