Emotional Well-Being in the Legal Profession

About the Seminar

One of the first programs to address substance use disorder and mental health in the legal profession, this event is a must-attend for law firms, general, and in-house counsel. Join us as we examine how safeguarding attorneys, improving law firm culture, and ensuring the highest level of service are inextricably linked. Walk away with a better understanding of preventative measures and protocols for assisting those suffering from substance use disorder, anxiety, depression, and mental diagnosis.

The Benefits to You

By attending this seminar, you will

• Learn best practices for preventing root causes, and supporting lawyers with substance abuse and mental health challenges.
• Examine ways to create a safe work environment for people with an addiction and/or mental health diagnosis.
• Find out how to identify and aid attorneys who are at high-risk for suicide.
• Discover techniques for managing the business while helping lawyers be their best.
• Explore ways to protect your clients and ensure that excellent service is consistently provided.
• Strengthen your strategy to ensure the overall health of your firm and its future.
• Share ideas, collaborate, and network with your legal peers.

Who Should Attend

This seminar is designed especially for the following roles within the legal profession:

• Law firm leaders, including:
  • Managing Partners
  • Chairmen
  • Executive Committee Members
  • Practice Group Leaders
  • CHROs
  • COO/EDs
  • Chief Talent Officers/Heads of Talent Development
• General Counsel
• Senior In-House Counsel
• Insurance Underwriters
• Insurance Brokers

This seminar is approved for 6.75 CA MCLE Credits in Competency Issues

SPEAKERS

Co – Chairs

Russell C. Deyo, Formerly General Counsel, Johnson & Johnson and Acting Deputy Secretary, US Department of Homeland Security

Patrick R. Krill, JD, LL.M, MA, Founder, Krill Strategies

9:00 – 9:15 am

Welcome and Opening

Douglas Clark, Managing Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

9:15 - 10:00 am

Out of the Darkness and into the Light: Real Professions, Real Disease Real Pathways to Recovery

Mental health conditions and substance use disorders affect an enormous proportion of our world population. The ABA Attorney Wellness Study found that lawyers are affected to a considerably greater extent than those in the general population. The of depression among lawyers is four times that of the general population.

• Breaking the stigma of mental health and substance use disorders
• Mental health conditions are health conditions
• We are all in this together!
• Creating a safe space: Seeking help is crucial and will not lead to prejudice in the workplace
• Demands from the next generation of lawyers: A healthy workplace is a must for recruiting and retaining the best and the brightest
• Demonstrating concrete wellness efforts
• The Stability Network: Real professionals, real stories
• Prior to practicing: helping law schools students learn to cope with the pressures of our profession

Andrea Colby, former IP Counsel, Johnson & Johnson and Trustee, Albany Law School

Lisa F. Smith, Author, Girl Walks Out of Bar

10:00 – 11:00 am

Tackling Substance Use Disorder, Anxiety, Depression and Mental Health Diagnosis Head On

Over 250,000 or 20.6% of Attorney in the US suffer from a problematic relationship with substances. This according to a recent survey on Mental Health and Substance Abuse. The same study indicated more than 86 percent of law firm leaders said that depression occurred in their firms. Over 93 percent said the same for anxiety.

Patrick R. Krill, JD, LL.M, MA, Founder, Krill Strategies

Ross Todd, Bureau Chief, The Recorder and Law.com’s Minds Over Matters

11:10 – 11:15 am
Mid - Morning Break

11:15 am – 12:00 pm

American Bar Association Update and Anti Stigma Campaign

The American Bar Association is committed to improving mental health for all members of the legal profession, including lawyers, judges and law students. Terri Gronkiewicz of the ABA will provide an update on the ABA Working Group to Advance Well-Being the Legal Profession and will discuss the various initiatives and resources of the ABA to enhance well-being in the legal community, including:

• The ABA Pledge
• The work of the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP).
• The ABA’s Profession-Wide Anti-Stigma Campaign.
• De-stigmatizing mental health and substance use disorders in the legal profession.
• The vital importance of asking for help.
• Educating partners and management about the issue in the profession
• Recognizing early warning signs of substance abuse and mental health issues
• Identifying and creating resources.

Moderator:

Kristin Calve, Publisher, Corporate Counsel Business Journal

Panel

Theresa (“Terri”) Gronkiewicz, Acting Director, Center for Professional Responsibility, Staff Counsel, Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs and Standing Committee on Professionalism, American Bar Association

Mark S. Goldstein, Counsel, Reed Smith

12:00 - 1:00 pm
Networking Luncheon

1:00 - 1:45 pm

Addressing Recovery: Established Mitigation Standards

There is nowhere to hide if you seek mitigation. Owning the difficulties and the misconduct is only part of what is necessary. Above all, parties must demonstrate they have committed to recovering. This session will explore:

• Aggravation and Mitigation
• Understanding the causes of misconduct
• Existence of emotional and physical difficulties
• Clear and convincing evidence of rehabilitation
• Proof of treatment
• Recovery
• Candor and cooperation
• Good character

Hon. Catherine D. Purcell, Presiding Judge, State Bar Court of California

1:45 – 2:45 pm

Proactive Approaches to Enhancing Well-Being in YOUR Law Firm

Educating partners and management and recognizing early warning signs of substance abuse and mental health issues is crucial. Follow-up is then the tipping point to creating enterprise wide well-being solutions.

• Talent development, retention and succession plans
• Increasing resilience, focus, and productivity
• Aspirational plans - Where to start and how to sustain impact in a well-being plan
• Providing a safe haven insuring confidentiality and privacy
• Working with your clients to manage unnecessary sources of stress
• Working with our core strengths – coaching and presentations under the positive psychology umbrella.
• Creating and presenting a resilience curriculum – including elements of positive psychology, mindfulness & meditation, yoga, and more.
• PD Partnerships – Human Resources, Pro Bono, and outside resources

Moderator

Jan Anne Dubin, CEO and Founder, Jan Anne Dubin Consulting

Speakers

Kathleen T. Pearson, Chief Human Resources Officer, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Brenda Jacobsen, CEO, LifeXT

Nancy Dolan, Administrator, Professional Development Resilience Coach, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

2:45 - 3:00 pm
Afternoon Break

3:00 – 3:45 pm

The New Behavioral Health Model: Immediate Support for Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere

According to a Forrester article from December 9, 2019, putting off behavioral health care can increase medical spend by up to 300%, yet the average wait time for mental health appointments, according to the Electronic Health Reporter, is up to 25 days. In response to the shortage of providers, legal employers are turning to on-demand technology – centered around behavioral health coaching – to provide their firm with in-the-moment emotional support. Learn how this new model:

• Manages stress and anxiety through clinically validated methods
• Preempts more severe conditions by intervening in-the-moment
• Accelerates therapy and psychiatry treatment by championing behavior change

Karan Singh, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Ginger

3:45 – 4:30 pm

Pressure, Pace & Privacy: Client Collaboration

Culture and communication are key. Establishing fair and reasonable boundaries between law firms and their clients is a crucial to managing the day-to-day stress. This session will delve into the inter-relationship between in-house and outside counsel.

• How technology has piled on the pressure for today’s attorneys
• Working at a breakneck pace is not sustainable
• Creating a safe haven for those seeking help
• Confidentiality and Privacy – Who do you tell, what do you tell them and when do you tell them?

Russell C. Deyo, Formerly General Counsel, Johnson & Johnson and Acting Deputy Secretary, US Department of Homeland Security

Michael Joyce, Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Elizabeth Qually, Attorney, Bloom Energy

4:30 - 5:30 pm

Wellness Strategies and Competency for the Legal Community

From the intense competition of law school to the mahogany of office hallways, like minded professionals are working long stress filled hours. Their morals and values at play when faced with challenges associated in defending positions that may be contrary to one’s beliefs. Resulting stress may manifest in physical and/or psychological signs of anxiety

• How substance use and mental health issues can impair an attorney’s ability to perform legal services competently
• Wellness Strategies and Other Resources for Legal Profession
• What the California Lawyer Assistance Program offers

Lita Abella, Sr. Program Analyst, Lawyer Assistance Program, The State Bar of California

5:30 pm
Networking Reception