Lawyers in Distress: Intervention Strategies for Legal Professionals (Webinar)

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"I’m ok. I can work this out for myself."

"I’m not like a 'real' alcoholic anyway."

"I want help but I don’t want anyone to know."

"Will I be reported to Discipline?"

Sound familiar? There is a misconception among lawyers that only people who have "hit bottom" need or ask for help. The statistics say otherwise, as recent surveys indicate that the overwhelming majority of legal practitioners believe they have suffered negative mental health consequences as a result of their chosen profession.

With the alarming prevalence of substance use and mental health disorders in the legal profession, it is imperative that we are all armed with the knowledge and insight of how to approach someone who may be struggling. Certain approaches yield greater results than others. The "Intervention" methods shown on television, while often compelling, don't typically produce excellent results – especially with members of the legal profession.

As lawyers, we all know that language is often the key to success. Why should we expect it to differ in the life-and-death struggle to help someone who suffers from alcohol or substance misuse or a mental health disorder? With the alarming number of suicides in our profession, it tells us that people would rather die than ask for help - and this must stop.

Learning objectives:

• Recognize that one in three legal professionals will struggle with substance use and/or a mental health disorder at some point in their legal careers.
• Spot the signs of impairment and learn the "Motivational Interventions" approach that yields results and saves lives.
• Utilize the confidential, free, safe, and supportive services that are available through the lawyers assistance programs.
• The barriers that exist that prevent lawyers and judges from asking for help with an alcohol or substance misuse or mental health disorder.
• Identify the parameters of Rule of Professional Conduct 8.3 (c) – and the safe harbor that it provides to protect attorneys working with an approved lawyers assistance program or who contact a lawyers assistance program on behalf of an attorney or judge who is struggling.

Provider:
Jenkins Law Library, an accredited provider under the Pennsylvania CLE Board's Rules, will serve as the CLE provider for this course. The course has been approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board for 1.0 hour of CLE credit in ethics.

This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 1.0 hour of total CLE credit in ethics/professionalism.

Note:
This webinar will be presented using Zoom, a free videoconferencing service. For more information on Zoom, please visit the Zoom Support page.