Justia Connect Webinars Order in the Court: Tackling Bullying in the Legal Profession

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Overview AI Webinar Summary

Order in the Court: Tackling Bullying in the Legal Profession

An extensive study has shown that 1 in 4 lawyers report having experienced workplace bullying during a one-year period. Whether it is an intentional act with the aim of intimidating or controlling another person, or an unintentional bias displayed toward a person based on their individual characteristics, bullying can cause extreme stress. That stress, combined with the everyday stresses of the legal profession, can have a serious impact on an attorney’s mental health.

This presentation will cover the forms that bullying may take, how bullying has been reported in the legal profession, how issues of gender and race are perceived in the legal community as reported by peers, and what actions can be taken to alleviate workplace bias.

Duration of this webinar: 60 minutes

Originally broadcast: May 29, 2026 10:00 AM PT

Webinar Highlights

This webinar is divided into section summaries, which you can scan for key points and then dive into the sections that interest you the most.

00:00 Introduction to Bullying in Law

Mike Yagercik, the speaker, discusses the prevalence of bullying and civility issues in the legal profession, emphasizing their impact on mental health. He shares his personal experiences with substance misuse and the role of the Lawyers Assistance Program in addressing such challenges. He highlights the higher rates of mental health issues among lawyers compared to the general population. Mike references the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism's study on bullying, defining it as behavior intended to intimidate or humiliate. The study reveals that younger lawyers are disproportionately affected by bullying.

19:09 Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment

Mike highlights the disparities in leadership opportunities, pay, and retention for women despite equal entry into law school. The discussion includes issues like gender stereotyping, unequal pay, and the glass ceiling. Mike also discusses sexual harassment and the persistence of a boys' club culture in the legal profession. He emphasizes the importance of clear reporting mechanisms and safe spaces for addressing harassment. Mike highlights the need for trust in the reporting process to effectively address harassment.

40:30 Disability, Sexual Orientation, and Implicit Bias

Mike addresses the bullying of lawyers with disabilities and the importance of considering the impact on colleagues. He discusses the challenges faced by non-heterosexual lawyers, emphasizing the need for respect and privacy. Implicit bias is defined as unconscious negative attitudes towards specific social groups. Mike highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing implicit biases in the legal profession.

52:03 Microaggressions and Diversity

Mike discusses microaggressions and their impact on marginalized groups in the legal profession. He emphasizes the importance of diversity and the need to retain diverse perspectives in the field. The discussion includes the myth of meritocracy and the need for actionable training to address systemic issues. Mike highlights the role of lawyer assistance programs in supporting those affected by these challenges. He encourages reaching out to such programs for support and guidance.

Please note this AI-generated summary provides a general overview of the webinar but may not capture all details, nuances, or the exact words of the speaker. For complete accuracy, please refer to the original webinar recording.

Speaker

Mike Yagercik Educator
Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania

Michael F. Yagercik, Esquire is a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania with an active practice located in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. In 2025, Mr. Yagercik joined the Education and Outreach team for Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, an organization that provides services to Pennsylvania’s judges and lawyers, members of their families, and law students who may be facing mental health and/or substance use challenges. Mr. Yagercik has been a volunteer with LCL since 2020. Read More ›

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

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Alaska CLE

Status: Approved

Format: Live (Virtual), On-Demand

Credits: 1.00 Ethics

Earn Credit Until: May 28, 2031

California CLE

Status: Approved

Format: Live (Virtual), On-Demand

Credits: 1.00 Civility in the Legal Profession

Earn Credit Until: June 30, 2026

Hawaii CLE

Status: Approved

Format: Live (Virtual), On-Demand

Credits: 1.00 Ethics

Earn Credit Until: May 28, 2028

Illinois CLE

Status: Approved

Format: On-Demand

Credits: 1.00 Total: 0.50 Professional Responsibility - Diversity / Inclusion, 0.50 Professional Responsibility - Mental Health / Substance Abuse

Earn Credit Until: May 28, 2028

Nebraska CLE

Status: Approved

Format: On-Demand

Credits: 1.00 Professional Responsibility

Earn Credit Until: May 29, 2028

New Jersey CLE

Status: Approved

Format: Live (Virtual), On-Demand

Credits: 1.20 Ethics/Professionalism

Earn Credit Until: May 28, 2027

North Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Format: On-Demand

Credits: 1.00 Ethics

Earn Credit Until: February 28, 2027

Ohio CLE

Status: Approved

Format: On-Demand

Credits: 1.00 Attorney Professional Conduct

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2026

Pennsylvania CLE

Status: Approved

Format: On-Demand

Credits: 1.00 Ethics, Professionalism, or Substance Abuse

Earn Credit Until: May 28, 2028

South Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Format: Live (Virtual), On-Demand

Credits: 1.00 Substance Abuse/Mental Health

Difficulty: All Levels

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2026

Texas CLE

Status: Approved

Format: On-Demand

Credits: 1.00 Legal Ethics/Professional Responsibility

Earn Credit Until: April 30, 2027

Utah CLE

Status: Approved

Format: On-Demand

Credits: 1.00 Professionalism and Civility

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2026

Vermont CLE

Status: Approved

Format: Live (Virtual), On-Demand

Credits: 1.00 Attorney Wellness

Earn Credit Until: May 29, 2031

West Virginia CLE

Status: Approved

Format: On-Demand

Credits: 1.20 Legal Ethics, etc.

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2029

This presentation is approved for one hour of Ethics CLE credit in Alaska, one hour of Civility in the Legal Profession CLE credit in California, one hour of Ethics CLE credit in Hawaii, one hour of total CLE credit in Illinois, of which 0.50 credit hours will apply to Professional Responsibility - Mental Health / Substance Abuse credit , of which 0.50 credit hours will apply to Professional Responsibility - Diversity / Inclusion credit, one hour of Professional Responsibility CLE credit in Nebraska, one hour of Ethics CLE credit in North Carolina, one hour of Attorney Professional Conduct CLE credit in Ohio, one hour of Ethics, Professionalism, or Substance Abuse CLE credit in Pennsylvania, one hour of Substance Abuse/Mental Health CLE credit in South Carolina (all levels), one hour of Professionalism and Civility CLE credit in Utah, one hour of Attorney Wellness CLE credit in Vermont, and one hour of Legal Ethics, etc. CLE credit in West Virginia. This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 1.20 hours of total CLE credit. Of these, 1.20 qualify as total hours of credit for Ethics/Professionalism. This course has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE in the amount of 1.00 credit hours, of which 1.00 credit hours will apply to Legal Ethics/Professional Responsibility credit.
This presentation is approved for one hour of Civility in the Legal Profession CLE credit in California from 2026-07-01 to 2028-06-30.

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