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Attorney Licensure and the Impaired Professional

Learn how to recognize impairment, access resources, and support attorney recovery effectively.

Substance use disorders and mental health challenges can affect any attorney regardless of gender, culture, ethnicity, age, or socioeconomic status. This course, taught by seasoned attorneys Laurie Besden and Tracy Kepler, instructs attorneys on how to recognize the impaired professional, provides various resources to assist in the recovery and identifies the possible disciplinary implications of impaired attorneys' conduct. Ms. Besden will share her personal journey from the darkness and depths of despair in struggling with a substance use disorder as a licensed attorney, to her path of long-term recovery, where she received a full Governor's Pardon in 2020.

61 minutes
Course Exam
Certificate of Completion
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Why Lorman?

Over 39 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Agenda

Setting the Stage: Road to Redemption

Setting the Stage: Legal Profession Well-Being Studies

  • Krill, Johnson and Albert Legal Profession Study
  • 2021 LBA Global Study
  • 2024 ALM/Law.Com Study
  • 2021 DC and CA Attorney Stress Study
  • 2023 DC and CA Suicide/Loneliness Study

Who We Are and What We Face

  • Risk Characteristics of Attorneys
  • Pressures of the Workplace
  • Stigma/Conspiracy of Silence
  • Attorney Impairment and Regulation Data

Identifying Impairment Signs in Ourselves and Others

  • Contacting LAP for Another/Self
  • What to Look for in Colleague
  • Best Practices in Approaching a Colleague
  • Responsibilities of a Partner or Supervisory Lawyer
    • MRPC 5.1 and 5.3
    • MRPC 8.3(a)
    • Formal Legal Ethics Opinions
  • MRPC 1.1
  • MRPC 1.16(a)
  • Seeking Help
  • What Is the LAP

The Impaired Lawyer's Responsibilities

The Law Firm's Responsibilities

  • Changes to Rules, Policies and Procedures
  • Changes to Firm Culture
  • Well-Being Business Plans
  • Resources

What Can One Person Do? Strategies for Improving Well-Being

  • Boundaries
  • Disconnect
  • Manage the Apps
  • Unfollow the Unhealthy
  • Schedule Self-Care Time
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Why Lorman?

Over 39 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Credits

OnDemand Course

Applications have not yet been submitted for Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming CLE for this course. However, if you are interested in obtaining CLE for any of the listed states or have any additional credit questions please email us at [email protected] or call us at 866-352-9540.

This course was last revised on June 4, 2026.

Call 1-866-352-9540 for further credit information.

  • AK CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • Alaska attorneys may receive 1.0 hour(s) of continuing legal education, including 1.00 hour(s) of ethics credit for completing this program. Please contact the Alaska Bar Association or go to www.alaskabar.org for details regarding reciprocity with other states.
     
  • AL CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This course or a portion thereof has been approved by the Alabama State Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission for a maximum of 1.0 hour(s) of credit, including 1.0 hour(s) of ethics credit.
     
  • AR CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This course has been approved for 1.0 hour(s) of CLE by the Arkansas CLE Board, including 1.00 hour(s) of ethics credit.
     
  • Arizona CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • The Arizona State Bar does not pre-approve or pre-certify MCLE programs. However, records of this program and attendance will be maintained by Lorman Education Services/Noggin Guru for auditing purposes. This activity may qualify for up to 1.0 hour(s) toward your annual CLE requirement for the State Bar of Arizona, including 1.00 hour(s) of professional responsibility.
     
  • CA MCLE 1.0 including Prevention & Detection Competence 1
     
  • Lorman Education Services/Noggin Guru is a State Bar of California approved MCLE sponsor and this course qualifies for 1.0 CLE hour(s) of participatory credit, of which includes Prevention & Detection Competence for 1.00 hour.
     
  • CT CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • Neither the Connecticut Judicial Branch nor the Commission on Minimum Continuing Legal Education approve or accredit CLE providers or activities. This course has been approved for CLE credit in jurisdictions aside from CT and therefore it automatically meets the content and delivery requirements in Connecticut. Credit is based on a 60 minute credit hour and shall be awarded as follows: 1.0 CLE credit(s) including 1.00 hour(s) of ethics credit.
     
  • FL CLE 1.0 including Substance Abuse 1
     
  • This course has been approved by The Florida Bar for a total of 1.0 hour(s) of CLE credit. The course is approved for the following: Substance Abuse for 1.00 hour.
     
  • GA CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Georgia Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency for 1.0 CLE hour(s), including 1.0 ethics hour(s).
     
  • HI CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program was approved by the Hawaii State Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 CLE credit hour(s) including 1.00 ethics credit hour(s).
     
  • IN CLE 1.1 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Indiana Commission for Continuing Legal Education. Participating attorneys are eligible to receive up to 1.1 hour(s) of Distance Education CLE credit which includes 1.0 hour(s) of ethics.
     
  • MO CLE 1.2
     
  • This program has been approved by the Missouri Bar for 1.2 hour(s) of CLE.
     
  • ND CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • North Dakota CLE policy does not allow for pre-approval of any self-study courses. This course may qualify for up to 1.0 hour(s) of CLE credit, including 1.00 hour(s) of ethics credit.
     
  • NH MCLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • Lorman Business Center, LLC., is approved as an annual NHMCLE sponsor. This program has been approved by the New Hampshire Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board for 1.0 hours of CLE credit, of which includes 1.00 hour of ethics credit.
     
  • NJ CLE 1.2 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 1.2 hour(s) of total CLE credit. Of these, 1.0 qualify as hour(s) of credit for ethics/professional responsibility.
     
  • NM CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the New Mexico Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board for 1.0 hour(s) of credit, including 1.0 hour(s) of ethics credit.
     
  • NV CLE 1.0 including AAMH 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 CLE hour(s), including AAMH for 1.00 hour.
     
  • NY CLE 1.0 including Ethics and Professionalism 1
     
  • This course has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York Continuing Legal Education Board for up to a maximum of 1.0 credit hour(s) in the area(s) of Ethics and Professionalism for 1.00 hour. Each hour may be counted only as satisfying one category of credit. Duplicate credit for the same hour of instruction is not permitted. This course qualifies for credit for established attorneys only. Lorman Education- Noggin Guru, Inc. has a financial hardship guideline. Please contact customer service at 1.866.352.9539 for instructions on how to apply. Please note: This course is only approved for CLE credit in New York and is not eligible for CLE credit in any other jurisdiction.
     
  • OR CLE 1.0 including Mental Health/Substance Abuse 1
     
  • Approved for 1.0 CLE credit(s) in Oregon, including Mental Health/Substance Abuse for 1.00 hour.
     
  • PA CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • This Distance Learning program has been approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board for 1.0 hour(s) including 1.00 hour(s) of ethics, professionalism or substance abuse CLE credit.
     
  • VT CLE 1.0 including Attorney Wellness 1
     
  • This self-study program has been approved by the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board of Vermont for 1.0 hour(s) of CLE credit including Attorney Wellness for 1.00 hour credit(s). Please note: Attorneys may only claim 12 credits per compliance period in this format. This course is considered "Non-Moderated Programming without Interactivity".
     
  • WI CLE 1.0
     
  • This program qualifies for 1.0 hour(s) of ondemand CLE through the WI Board of Bar Examiners.
     
  • WV MCLE 1.3 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the West Virginia State Bar MCLE Commission for 1.3 MCLE hour(s), including 1.0 hour(s) of ethics credit.
     
The CLE Code is ONLY a requirement when applying for CLE Credit in New York. Other states do not need to supply the CLE Code to apply for CLE credit.

To earn each credit Lorman offers through the OnDemand learning platform, you need to watch 100% of the program. Also, for certain credits you will need to fulfill additional requirements which will be displayed on the "credits" tab when viewing the course.

This program does NOT qualify, nor meet the National Standard for NASBA accreditation.

MP3 Download

  • AK CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • Arizona CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • CA MCLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • CT CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • HI CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • NM CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • OR CLE 1.0
     
  • VT CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • WA CLE 1.0 including Ethics 1
     
  • WV MCLE 1.2 including Ethics 1.2
     
The CLE Code is ONLY a requirement when applying for CLE Credit in California (for participatory credit), Kansas, New Jersey or New York. Other states do not need to supply the CLE Code to apply for CLE credit.

This program does NOT qualify, nor meet the National Standard for NASBA accreditation.

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Why Lorman?

Over 39 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Faculty

Laurie Besden

Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of PA

Laurie J. Besden, Esq.

  • Executive Director of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, Inc. (LCL PA)
  • B.A. degree; in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland, College Park, MD; J.D. from The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University
  • Presenter for various organizations
  • Guest on several podcasts, and her story has appeared in print in the New York Times, MSNBC, American Bar Association, The Philadelphia Lawyer, The Pennsylvania Lawyer Magazine and law.com

Tracy L. Kepler

Lawyers' Professional Liability

  • Director of Risk Control for CNA’s Lawyers’ role
  • Leads the lawyers’ professional liability team, is accountable for business results through delivery of risk control services and designs and develops content and distribution of risk control initiatives relevant to the practice of law
  • Reviews and directs the evaluation and assessment of loss exposures and the application of risk control policies, guidelines, regulations, and drives the resolution of risk control issues and
  • Lectures frequently at CNA-sponsored events and at state and local bar associations and national seminars hosted by industry-leading organizations
  • Writes articles focusing on law firm risk control and professional responsibility issues
  • Member of various boards and organizations
  • Adjunct Professor at American University’s Washington College of Law, Georgetown University Law Center and Loyola School of Law (Chicago) teaching Legal Ethics
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Why Lorman?

Over 39 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

All of your training, right here at Lorman

All of your training, right here at Lorman.

Pay once and get a full year of unlimited training in any format, any time!

  • OnDemand Courses
  • Live Webinars
  • MP3 Downloads
  • Course Manuals
  • Executive Reports
  • White Papers and Articles

Additional benefits include:

  • State Specific Credit Tracker
  • All-Access Pass Course Concierge

Questions? Call 877-296-2169 to speak with a real person.

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Product ID: 412591
Published 2026
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