Available in:

OnDemand Course

Workplace Substance Abuse and Ethical Issues With Impaired Lawyer

Learn how to recognize mental health and substance abuse within your colleagues and how to address them about it.

It has been a truism for decades, if not centuries, that lawyers have problems with the bottle - it is a common cliché in movies and novels. Often the impaired attorney is the managing partner or the firm's rainmaker. It can be uncomfortable for colleagues to address the issue. Frequently they ignore the problem until it's too late - the firm has angry clients, malpractice suits and disciplinary action. This information will address some of the underlying reasons that lawyers suffer disproportionally high rates of substance abuse and mental health problems. It will review some common examples of attorney misconduct caused by substance abuse and/or mental illness. This material will look at both how these issues affect both the individual attorneys and the firm as a whole. It will also provide suggestions on some ways to protect your firm and your practice from impaired colleagues and where to go for help. Finally, this information will suggest some best practices to have in place prior to any problems.

91 minutes
Course Exam
Certificate of Completion
Purchase Options

Add to Wishlist

More Program Information

Why Lorman?

Over 37 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

Overview

  • Current Statistics on Lawyers and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues and Some Possible Explanations for These Numbers
  • General Understanding of Causes - Nature of Legal Work, Self-Selecting Population
  • Differences Among Attorneys Re: Gender, Age, Area of Practice, Length of Practice, Income
  • Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse and/or Mental Health Issues

How These Disorders Impact Lawyers' Practice

  • Ethical Violations and Discipline - Common Types of Misconduct That Are Frequently the Result of Mental Health Problems and Substance Abuse: Neglect, Poor Practice Management, Comingling
  • Criminal Consequences - DWI, Drug Possession, Assaults, Domestic Violence Offenses
  • Malpractice Claims - Inability to Be Insured

How These Disorders Impact the Workplace

  • Liability/Malpractice Issues
    • Impaired Attorneys
    • Impaired Managing Partners
    • Impaired Support Staff
  • Potential Professional Discipline
    • What Are the Reporting Requirements Under Rule 8.3?
    • What Potential Exposure Does the Rest of the Firm Have? (See in Re: Wilens and Baker Firm Was Disciplined for Failure to Address Misconduct by Partner)
  • Revenue and Firm Reputation

Firm-Wide Policies and Procedures

  • Requirements Under the Americans With Disabilities Act for Employees With Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues
  • Suggestions for Firm Policies to Be Established Before a Problem Arises

Strategies for Getting Help

  • Asking for Help - and Issues to Be Aware of - Lawyers Assistance Programs, Peers, Human Resources Departments
  • Ways to Approach the Impaired Colleague

Treatment and Disciplinary Alternatives for the Impaired Attorney

  • Diversion Programs
  • Lawyers Assistance Programs
  • New Trends in Treatment - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Alternatives to 12-Step Programs, etc.

Suggestions for Maintaining Firm Well-Being and a Healthy Environment for Employees

  • Wellness Policies
  • Vacation and Electronic Media Policies
Purchase Options

Add to Wishlist

More Program Information

Why Lorman?

Over 37 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, New Hampshire, 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 July 28, 2021.

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

  • AR CLE 1.5 including Ethics 1
     
  • This course has been approved for 1.5 hours of CLE by the Arkansas CLE Board, including 1.00 hours of ethics credit.
     
  • CA MCLE 1.5 including Ethics 0.5; Prevention & Detection Competence 1
     
  • Lorman Business Center, LLC. is a State Bar of California approved MCLE sponsor and this course qualifies for 1.5 CLE hours of participatory credit, of which includes 0.50 hour(s) of ethics credit and Prevention & Detection Competence for 1.00 hour.
     
  • NM CLE 1.5 including Ethics 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the New Mexico Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board for 1.5 hours of credit, including 1.0 hours of ethics credit.
     
  • NV CLE 1.5 including Ethics 0.5; Substance Abuse 0.5
     
  • This program has been approved by the Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.5 CLE hours, including Substance Abuse for 0.50 hours.
     
  • NY CLE 1.5 including Ethics and Professionalism 1.5
     
  • This course has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York Continuing Legal Education Board for up to a maximum of 1.5 credit hours in the area(s) of Ethics and Professionalism for 1.50 hours. 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 Business Center, LLC. has a financial hardship guideline. Please contact customer service at 1.866.352.9539 for instructions on how to apply.
     
  • OR CLE 1.5 including Mental Health/Substance Abuse 1; Ethics 0.5
     
  • Approved for 1.5 CLE credits in Oregon, including Mental Health/Substance Abuse for 1.00 hour.
     
  • UT CLE 1.5 including Professionalism and Civility 1
     
  • This program has been approved by the Utah State Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.5 CLE hours, including Professionalism and Civility for 1.00 hour.
     
  • WA CLE 1.5 including Ethics 0.5; Other 0.5
     
  • This program has been approved by the Washington State Board of Continuing Legal Education for 1.5 hours of A/V credit, including Other for 0.50 hours.
     
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.

Purchase Options

Add to Wishlist

More Program Information

Why Lorman?

Over 37 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

Meredith S. Heller

Meredith S. Heller

Law Office of Meredith S. Heller PLLC

  • Principal, the Law Office of Meredith S. Heller PLLC
  • Practice emphasizes criminal defense and professional responsibility
  • Frequent speaker at CLEs on substance abuse and the profession, as well as professional ethics, generally
  • Member of NYS Bar Association’s Task Force on Lawyer Wellbeing (chair, Emotional Wellbeing Subcommittee)
  • Member of the New York City Bar Association (former chair, Professional Responsibility Committee; former chair, Lawyers Assistance Program Committee), New York State Bar Association (member of Professional Discipline Committee), New York Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, and Federal Bar Council
  • J.D. degree, Cardozo Law School; M.A. and B.A. degrees, Case Western Reserve University
Purchase Options

Add to Wishlist

More Program Information

Why Lorman?

Over 37 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.

Sign Up Today
With This Course

Access to all training products for one year
$699/year

Unlimited Lorman Training

With the All-Access Pass there is no guessing what you will need for your yearly training budget. $699 will cover all of your training needs for an entire year!

Easy Registrations

Once you purchase your All-Access Pass you will never be any further than one-click away from attending any Lorman training course.

Invest in Yourself

You haven't gotten to where you are professionally by luck alone; it's taken a lot of hard work and training. Invest in yourself with the All-Access Pass.

Product ID: 409097
Published 2021
Purchase Options

Available in Multiple Formats

Purchase this course and learn on your schedule!