The Burned Out Lawyer – Recognition and Prevention Strategies in the Post – COVID World

Brian S. Quinn, Esq. | Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, Inc.

Brian S. Quinn, Esq. Lawyer in Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, Inc. Esquire is a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania who currently serves as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, Inc., a Lawyers Assistance Program established in 1988 for the purpose of helping lawyers, judges and law students recover from alcoholism, drug addiction and mental health disorders.

On-Demand: March 2, 2022

$95.00 1 hour CLE

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Program Summary

If there is one word we heard during our journey through the pandemic and continue to hear more than any other term as we navigate into the post-COVID “new normal” world it is “burnout”.

But what is burnout? What does it look like and feel like? More importantly, what can we do to prevent the normal stress and “lawyer anxiety” so common in our profession from developing into the physically and emotionally draining state known as Burnout?
Recent studies have shown that there has been a dramatic increase in impairment due to alcoholism, addiction, and mental health disorders among members of the legal profession. The statistics are compelling and clearly indicate that 1 out of 3 attorneys will likely have a need for substance use or mental health services at some point in their careers.

This course is co-sponsored with myLawCLE.

Key topics to be discussed:

The early warning signs of impairment, with special emphasis on stress and burnout: Symptoms of stress and burnout that are particularly prevalent among members of the legal profession; Discussion will include the basic stress reactions, both physical and psychological, the difference between healthy stress and distress, with emphasis on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; The transition from distress to burnout and how we can recognize and identify the sources of stress in our lives before burnout develops; Guidelines for a “master plan”, including realistic prevention strategies that work
Why lawyers and judges are at especially high risk to develop mental health and substance use disorders
The free services that lawyers Assistance Programs provide to lawyers, judges, their family members, and law students
The barriers that prevent lawyers and judges from seeking the help they need
The role that education plays in breaking the stigma and fear associated with alcoholism, substance use disorders, and mental illness in the legal profession

Date / Time: March 2, 2022

12:00 pm – 1:40 pm Eastern
11:00 am – 12:40 pm Central
10:00 am – 11:40 am Mountain
9:00 am – 10:40 am Pacific

Choose a format:

Live Video Broadcast/Re-Broadcast: Watch Program "live" in real-time, must sign-in and watch program on date and time set above. May ask questions during presentation via chat box. Qualifies for "live" CLE credit.

On-Demand Video: Access CLE 24/7 via on-demand library and watch program anytime. Qualifies for self-study CLE credit. On-demand versions are made available 5 business days after the original recording date and are viewable for up to one year.

Closed-captioning available

Speakers

Brian S. Quinn, Esq. | Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, Inc.

Mr. Quinn obtained his undergraduate degree in 1970, his law degree in 1973 and a certificate in Drug and Alcohol counselling in 2012, from Villanova University. A member of the Pennsylvania and American Bar Associations, he has been a private practitioner for over 40 years, having litigated both civil and criminal matters during his career.

Mr. Quinn also worked in the field of Alcohol and Drug Counseling in suburban Philadelphia from 2011 to 2017, allowing him to gain both practical and clinical experience with individuals suffering from alcohol, substance use and mental health disorders.

Mr. Quinn is a past member of the Board of Directors of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania and served as a peer volunteer for over six years prior to accepting his current role as the organization’s Educator in 2017. He has written articles and made presentations on many lawyer wellness topics to law firms, Bar Associations, professional organizations and legal education providers on a state, national and international level.

Agenda

I. Introduction and overview; Pre-Covid prevalence rates of impairment among lawyers due to alcohol and substance use and mental health issues | 12:00 pm – 12:10 pm
II. The early warning signs of impairment, with special emphasis on stress and burnout; symptoms of stress and burnout that are particularly prevalent among members of the legal profession; Discussion will include the basic stress and distress, with emphasis on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic | 12:10 pm – 12:25 pm
III. The transition from distress to burnout and how we can recognize and identify the sources of stress in our lives before burnout develops | 12:25 pm – 12:35 pm
IV. Guidelines for a “master plan”, including realistic prevention strategies that work | 12:35 pm – 12:50 pm
V. The free services that lawyers Assistance Programs provide to lawyers, judges, their family members and law students | 12:50 pm – 1:00 pm

Break | 1:00 pm – 1:10 pm

VI. Why lawyers are at especially high risk to develop mental health and substance use disorders | 1:10 pm – 1:22 pm
VII. The barriers that prevent lawyers from seeking the help they need | 1:22 pm – 1:35 pm
VIII. The role that education plays in breaking the stigma and fear associated with alcoholism, substance use disorders, and mental illness in the legal profession | 1:35 pm – 1:40 pm