Strategies for Awareness, Prevention, and Intervention
This course offers a deep dive into the critical issues of mental health and substance misuse specifically tailored for legal professionals. It addresses the unique challenges faced by attorneys, including high stress, burnout, depression, anxiety, and the risks associated with substance use and cognitive impairment. With insights from the ABA/Hazelden-Betty Ford Study and other research, the course presents a stark picture of the prevalence of these issues within the legal profession and the dire need for effective solutions.
Participants will learn about the underlying causes of mental health problems and substance misuse, including the impact of stress, the nature of burnout, and the insidious role of loneliness and social isolation. The course emphasizes practical strategies for managing stress, setting boundaries, and fostering well-being through mindfulness, exercise, diet, and sleep. Additionally, it addresses the importance of seeking help and the resources available through Lawyer Assistance Programs (LAPs), as well as the ethical implications of mental health and substance misuse in the legal profession.
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Education and Outreach Coordinator at Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Brian S. Quinn, 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. Mr. Quinn obtained his undergraduate degree in 1970, his law degree in 1973 and a certificate in Drug and Alcohol counselling in 2012, all from Villanova University. Prior to accepting his position with Lawyers concerned for Lawyers in 2017, Mr. Quinn was engaged in private practice for nearly 40 years, handling a variety of civil and criminal matters. Mr. Quinn has also worked in the field of Alcohol and Drug Counselling at Mirmont Treatment Center and Malvern Institute in suburban Philadelphia. 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. As LCL's Educator, Mr. Quinn has conducted CLE presentations for Bar Associations, private law firms and professional organizations in Pennsylvania, as well as for National CLE providers, on a variety of topics in the fields of Lawyer wellness and impairment in the legal profession.
