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Substance Abuse Ethics: What All Attorneys Must Know

Substance and alcohol abuse can have costly consequences - know your ethical responsibilities to protect your practice.

Substance and alcohol abuse can have costly consequences - know your ethical responsibilities to protect your practice. 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. Many lawyers have difficulty dealing with the stress of the profession but do not know how to identify what the problem is or what can be done. Attorneys are also often reluctant to ask for help. Often they ignore the problem until it's too late, they are facing a job loss, discipline, or even criminal charges. This topic will address the modern definitions of substance abuse and mental illness and then discuss some of the underlying reasons that lawyers suffer disproportionally high rates of these diseases, review some examples of attorney misconduct caused by substance abuse and/or mental illness, and will suggest some ways to protect yourself and your practice from the consequences of substance abuse and mental illness.

89 minutes
Course Exam
Certificate of Completion
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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

Definitions of Terms

  • Substance Abuse and Addiction
  • Mental Health Issues

Current Statistics on Lawyers and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues

  • Possible Explanations for These Numbers
  • Discussion of Krill Study
  • General Understanding of Causes
  • Differences Among Attorneys Re: Gender, Age, Area of Practice, Length of Practice, Income

How These Disorders Impact Lawyers' Practice

  • Ethical Violations and Discipline
  • Criminal Consequences
  • Loss of Reputation and Opportunities

Treatment and Disciplinary Alternatives

  • Diversion Programs
  • Lawyers Assistance Programs
  • New Trends in Treatment

Strategies for Getting Help for Yourself and/or Your Colleagues

  • Asking for Help - and Issues to Be Aware of - What to Do If You Think Your Colleague Is Impaired
  • Suggestions for Ways to Protect Your Firm and Clients From Impaired Colleagues
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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 September 17, 2020.

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

  • Arizona CLE 1.5 including Ethics 1.5
     
  • 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 for auditing purposes. This activity may qualify for up to 1.5 hours toward your annual CLE requirement for the State Bar of Arizona, including 1.50 hours of professional responsibility.
     
  • CA MCLE 1.5 including Prevention & Detection Competence 1.5
     
  • Lorman Education Services is a State Bar of California approved MCLE sponsor and this course qualifies for 1.5 CLE hours of participatory credit, of which includes Prevention & Detection Competence for 1.50 hours.
     

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.

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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
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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.

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  • State Specific Credit Tracker
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Product ID: 407873
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