New York (NY) Substance Abuse CLE Course Catalog

Experts differ on whether lawyers are more prone to depression than others who work in equally high-stress occupations such as doctors. But one thing is clear: the stigma associated with depression is one of the reasons lawyers may not get help when they need it. Is an ancient virus the reason humans are susceptible to substance use disorders? How has modern medicine changed the way we treat substance use disorders? This program answers these important questions so that today's lawyers have the tools they need to help themselves or a colleague.

This session will cover barriers to wellness for lawyers, and why lawyers are often reluctant to seek help. This panel will also include achievable strategies that lawyers can employ to enhance their well-being. In addition, this program will review lawyers' ethical obligations, and how enhancing personal well-being and adopting strategies for balancing life’s demands can enhance their ability to comply with these obligations.

Incivility in the legal profession is not a new concern. But workplace abuse and bullying involve behavior akin to domestic violence, including psychological aggression, dominance, and control. What are the key components of workplace abuse? How are targets harmed and traumatized? What is the impact of workplace abuse on the ethical practice of law, lawyer well-being, and the performance of lawyers and organizations? The panel will discuss these questions and more.

As the lines have gone from blurry to nonexistent, lawyers and legal teams everywhere are struggling with when to ‘end’ the workday before a new one begins. An already long overdue concern for lawyers, finding appropriate work/life balance amid a global pandemic requires legal teams to think more creatively about how they are helping lawyers reduce stress and maintain a sustainable pace that will not lead to fatigue, burn out, or more serious mental health concerns. Thanks to the recent pandemic however, a silver lining has emerged: there is a new light and focus on what firms can do to boost morale, keep mental health front-and-center, and make work/life balance a reality, instead of a hopeful, yet distant dream.

Incapacity and dementia affects all practitioners (both personally and professionally) especially as our profession ages. Truly, it is not a matter of "if" a practitioner will be confronted with issues related to incapacity, it is a matter of "when".

This program discusses how to recognize the impaired practitioner, how to start a conversation with a practitioner you believe to be impaired, resources to assist in recovery, and identifies the possible disciplinary implications of an impaired practitioners' conduct.

This program will define the stigma around substance use and mental health disorders, explain the reasons why stigma is so pervasive in the legal profession, and why it is critical to overcome these beliefs and identify effective means to ameliorate stigma and replace its effects with affirming attitudes for recovery. It will focus on several different "life stages" of an attorney (law students, career practitioners, and judges), and how stigma affects each group and identify practical and applicable ways to conquer stigma in the legal community.

Verna Myers said "Diversity is being invited to the party; Inclusivity is being asked to dance". The discussion around diversity is one that has been ongoing for a number of years now, but recent studies show that this push for diversity targets simply isn't enough. To truly make the breakthrough for diversity, and to reap the benefits diversity brings, it is time to shift the focus of our discussions to inclusivity. Inclusion: what does it mean in practice and what strategies can you deploy to create an inclusive and collaborative culture? How can you create inclusive environments through remote working? Unlocking the opportunities to improve diversity Supporting your team during these times: Effective strategies to support your teams mental health and creating a culture of 'togetherness'

This webinar is intended for judges who wish to address self-help strategies judges can use to become more stress-resilient and lead happier and more fulfilling careers.