Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowBy Traci Cosby, Catherine Clements and Colin Connor
As attorneys, we are not immune to the pressures and demands of everyday life. Far too often, we spend our time solving the problems of others and caring for someone else’s needs, but rarely do we take the time to reflect on our own. Between the ever-so-demanding billable hour and the genuine desire to be active in professional organizations and community events, personal health and mental wellness are usually the first items neglected on an attorney to-do list. But as healthier and happier individuals, we are better equipped to provide representation that is more effective to our clients, contribute more fully to our communities, and most importantly, lead more enjoyable personal lives.
To that end, the Indiana State Bar Association Leadership Development Academy Class IV strives to promote and educate our colleagues on attorney wellness through a CLE, which will include the services offered through the ISBA Wellness Committee, the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program and other available resources around the state. This live CLE will be presented during the ISBA annual meeting at the French Lick Resort Oct. 7-9 with videotaped broadcasts available for replay thereafter. Personal wellness is important for attorneys as individuals, but we also have a professional and ethical duty to keep ourselves well for the benefit of our clients and our profession.
That duty is reflected in the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct. The preamble to these rules states that attorneys have a “special responsibility for the quality of justice.” Such an important role in society requires that attorneys perform at their peak capabilities. That is nearly impossible to do, however, if an attorney is suffering from untreated depression, addiction to drugs and/or alcohol, or an unhealthy lifestyle.
The stress of the job can sometimes lead attorneys to neglect their mental and physical health. There is good news, however, as attorneys’ rates of recovery from addiction and mental health issues are nearly double that of the general population. The general population recovers at 40 to 50 percent, while attorneys recover at 80 to 90 percent. JLAP and similar programs are a key piece in that success.
The two-hour CLE presented at the ISBA annual meeting will discuss the impact of attorney wellness, including an emphasis on the ethics of staying well. Through interaction, presentations, and a panel discussion, the CLE will cover topics such as workload, client retention, stress, and ethical obligations, as well as challenges like substance abuse, mental health issues and cognitive decline. The panel will provide insight into wellness approaches, focusing on prevention through fitness and health. Attendees will learn about JLAP and its benefits, especially the protections and incentives that it gives to attorneys who seek help, including confidentiality and the potential to increase leniency by the Disciplinary Commission if an attorney has sought help through JLAP. Finally, members of the Disciplinary Commission will discuss the commission’s approach to addressing mental health and substance abuse challenges.
The CLE will be recorded and replayed throughout the state. Class members will attend and introduce replay sessions around the state. Please contact the ISBA to inquire about a CLE replay in your community. The class hopes this will stimulate conversations about wellness among ISBA members and attorneys in Indiana.
The ISBA Leadership Development Academy Class IV encourages all ISBA members to attend this CLE and learn more about the importance of wellness and the resources available to attorneys in Indiana.•
__________
• Traci Cosby, Catherine Clements and Colin Connor are graduates of the 2015 leadership academy. The opinions expressed are those of the authors.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.