• videocam On-Demand Webinar
  • signal_cellular_alt Intermediate
  • card_travel Ethics and Specialty Credits
  • schedule 90 minutes

Competence and Well-Being: Addressing Substance Abuse in Legal Practice

$197.00

This course is $0 with these passes:

CLE
ALL
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About the Course

Introduction

Attorneys face tremendous daily pressure, resulting in anxiety and stress. Neglecting to address these mental health states can be disastrous for the attorney and those around them, including family, colleagues, and friends. Ignoring these health challenges may lead to abuse of drugs or alcohol.

Description

In a 2024 survey, 11% of attorneys had substance abuse problems at some point, and nearly 21% screened positive for problematic/harmful alcohol-dependent drinking. Indeed, one-third of all discipline cases result from substance abuse. 

Acknowledging and addressing these dangerous, potentially life-threatening behaviors is vital. This course will provide counsel with the knowledge to effectively assess substance abuse challenges for themselves and for colleagues, fostering a supportive and productive work environment. 

Listen as our panel provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges associated with substance abuse and mental health issues in the legal profession. The panel will also address legal and ethical considerations, review relevant Model Rules of Professional Conduct, and provide tools and resources to aid the attorney facing these struggles. 

Presented By

Lita Abella, JD, BCC, ACC
Founder
Lita Abella, Coaching, Consulting, and Mediation Services

Ms. Abella specializes in coaching and strategic consulting, guiding individuals and organizations to unlock their full potential. As a mediator, she is dedicated to helping parties reach amicable resolutions.

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Amy Guldner, Esq.
Founder, Speaker & Coach
Reframing Well-Being
Karen Munoz, Esq.
Founder & Wellness Advocate
Roaring Grace Mindful Wellness
Credit Information

  • An excellent opportunity to earn Ethics CLE credits. Note: BARBRI cannot guarantee that this course will be approved for ethics credits in all states. To confirm, please contact our CLE department at pdservice@barbri.com.

Date + Time

  • event

    Tuesday, December 9, 2025

  • schedule

    1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT

I. Introduction: prevalence and impact

II. Recognizing impairment and addiction

III. Legal and ethical considerations

IV. Effective intervention strategies for self and others

V. Creating a supportive work environment

VI. Resources and additional tools

VII. Practitioner takeaways

The panel will review these and other key issues:

  • Gaining a deeper understanding of substance abuse and mental health issues in the legal profession
  • Effective techniques to support self or colleagues facing these challenges
  • Creating a workplace culture that encourages openness and recovery
  • Resources that support mental health and addiction recovery