(Webcast) What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Ethics and Well-Being

This program will discuss the well-being movement in the profession and the ethical consequences that may be the result of impairment related to a mental health or substance use disorder. Embracing well-being is an ethical imperative for the profession. The faculty will review the New York Rules of Professional Conduct and discuss how impairment caused by a mental health or substance use disorder can result in disciplinary sanctions.  The program will also introduce Disciplinary Diversion, a court-sanctioned program in collaboration with the Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) Monitoring Program, which gives attorneys an opportunity to document a history of “rehabilitation” and possibly avoid sanctions.

Providing resources is an essential part of improving the health and well-being of the profession. New York City Bar LAP is a free and confidential service available to lawyers, judges, law students, family members and staff to help them address a mental health, substance use, personal or professional problem in a safe, compassionate environment.

Learn more about this critical topic, including hearing about the following matters:

• The 2016 data-driven research study co-sponsored by the ABA and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
• The basis of well-being is “self-care”, the active participation of enhancing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Practicing self-care helps build resilience, increases stress management, improves competence, promotes work-life balance and helps prevent burnout.
• Law schools, legal employers and the judiciary must provide resources and accommodations for students, lawyers and judges giving them access to the help they need to address mental health, substance use disorders, personal and professional problems.
• Many lawyers have courageously and openly shared their personal struggles with a mental health or substance use problem and one will join the panel for this presentation.

And much more…

Program Fee:
Free for Members | $49 Nonmember

6:00 pm – 6:20 pm                  Eileen Travis

• The ABA’s 2017 “Path to Lawyers Wellbeing Report” emphasized that a lawyers wellbeing is an indispensable part of a lawyer’s duty to competence. The well-being campaign was launched to find better ways to address the high incidence of mental health, substance use personal and professional problems in the profession and challenge the stigma that prevents legal professionals from reaching out for help. This discussion will focus on the importance of intervening early to prevent future problems, and steps to achieve and maintain wellbeing. It will include the support and services available at the NYC Bar’s Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP).

6:20 pm – 6:45 pm                  Meredith Heller

• The interplay between lawyer impairment and ethical obligations, including the possible consequences of not addressing a mental health or substance use disorder. This discussion will include a review the NYS Rules of Professional Conduct and what steps to take if an attorney is the subject of a disciplinary complaint. Ms. Heller will introduce Disciplinary Diversion, a program supervised by the Lawyer Assistance Program, available to attorneys who claim impairment from a mental health, substance use or physical disability occurring during the time period alleged misconduct occurred.

6:45 pm – 7:05 pm                  Joe Milowic

• Joe is a partner at Quinn Emanuel, in charge of the firm’s wellbeing activities and a member of the NYC Bar’s Lawyer Assistance Committee. Joe shares openly about his struggle with major depression, his recovery and the impetus that encouraged his creation of the Lawyer Depression Project.

7:05 pm – 7:15 pm                  Q&A

New York: 1.0 Ethics
New Jersey: 1.0 Professional Responsibility
California: 1.0 Professional Responsibility
Pennsylvania: 1.0 Professional Responsibility
Connecticut: Available to Licensed Attorneys

Sponsoring Association Committees/Organizations:
Lawyer Assistance Program, Priscilla Lundin, Chair
Mindfulness & Well-Being in Law, Lisa Podemski, Chair
New York City Bar Lawyer Assistance Program, Eileen Travis, Executive Director

Sponsorship Opportunities are Available! Please Contact:
Yelena Balashchenko, Manager, Business Development & Sponsorships | (212) 382-6608 | ybalashchenko@nycbar.org