No One Makes It Out Unscathed

This session has been approved for one PA ethics CLE credit. Attorneys hopefully recognize that like many other professionals, their lives are filled to the brim with stress. It’s important to be proactive in dealing with it. The consequences of shrugging it off can be catastrophic - not only for them but for their family, staff and clients. And then there’s trauma. The ramifications of trauma aren’t discussed as frequently as those of stress and thus, for many attorneys and judges, trauma is a topic in need of attention. Trauma can be secondary or vicarious. Trauma may result from a personal loss or the cumulative impact of missed opportunities, fear and uncertainty about the future. Often it is caused by the very work we do every day as we listen to clients or witnesses describe the details of a traumatic experience. Hear from our experienced speaker as he shares his personal story of trauma and learn how you can recognize the unhealthy and potentially life threatening shadow it can cast. Recent studies have shown that there has been a dramatic increase in impairment due to alcoholism, addiction and mental health disorders among members of the legal profession. The statistics are compelling and clearly indicate that 1 out of 3 attorneys will likely have a need for substance use or mental health services at some point in their careers. Presenter Brian Quinn, Esquire and Education and Outreach Coordinator of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of PA Recorded on June 14, 2023