Practical Wellness for Ethical Practice

This course explores the vital connection between attorney wellness and professional ethics. With mental health challenges such as stress, burnout, anxiety, and substance abuse disproportionately affecting lawyers, maintaining personal well-being is essential not only for a fulfilling career but also for upholding ethical obligations to clients and the profession.

Attendees will learn how the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct explicitly tie wellness to competence, diligence, communication, and duties to withdraw when impaired. The program covers ethical responsibilities related to recognizing impairment in oneself and others, the duty to report misconduct, and the role of law firms in fostering a culture of support.

Practical wellness strategies and resources, including Lawyer Assistance Programs and confidential support options, will be provided to empower lawyers to prioritize their mental health as a professional imperative. This program satisfies Ethics and Well-being CLE requirements and encourages attorneys and legal professionals to view self-care as a fundamental part of ethical lawyering.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify how mental health and wellness impact ethical obligations under the ABA Model Rules.
2. Recognize signs of impairment in themselves and others that may affect professional competence.
3. Understand the ethical duties to withdraw from representation or report professional misconduct related to impairment.
4. Explain the role of Lawyer Assistance Programs and the confidentiality protections under Rule 8.3(c).
5. Apply practical strategies to support personal well-being and ethical resilience in legal practice.