Burnout: Signs, Strategies, and Solutions for the Ethical Lawyer

The legal profession is particularly cognizant of burnout, a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.  This live, virtual Zoom-based CLE is designed to inform attendees about the signs and symptoms of burnout and how to recognize it in yourself and others. Importantly, this CLE will provide attendees with understanding of how burnout, feeling overburdened, and facing constant stress may impact your ethical and professional obligations as an attorney. This presentation is designed to be an open and productive discussion on how we can work as a legal community to support each other in maintaining our professionalism and ethical responsibilities, while tackling difficult personal challenges. This shame free, dialogue-centric CLE is being presented by Laurel Boivin of Flux+Flow Coaching, a leadership coach and speaker, and Jill O’Neill, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Lawyers Assistance Program (NHLAP). 

We believe this course may qualify for 120 minutes toward the annual NHMCLE requirement. Upon signing up for this program, you will receive a link to the live, two-hour virtual Zoom CLE.

Learning Objectives include: 

1.         Signs and symptoms of stress and burnout 

2.         The limbic brain & basic stress reactions 

3.         The dimensions of burnout 

4.         Why lawyers and judges are at especially high risk to develop mental health and substance use disorders. 

5.         Explore the impacts stress can have on work performance and professionalism 

6.         Building a strategy: tools to build resilience and reverse burnout 

7.         The free services that Lawyers Assistance Programs provide to lawyers, judges, their family members and law students. 

8.         The role that education plays in breaking the stigma and fear associated with mental health and substance use disorders and help-seeking in the legal profession