CLE
Brian S. Quinn
Brian S. Quinn Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania
What Should I Do? Ethical Dilemmas and the Duty To Report an Impaired Colleague
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What Should I Do? Ethical Dilemmas and the Duty To Report an Impaired Colleague

The prevalence rates for impairment due to substance and alcohol misuse, stress, anxiety and depression continue to rise. One out of three lawyers will require some form of treatment for these issues in their careers. Despite these startling statistics, the fear of asking for help remains. Many believe it is the very culture which has been created in the legal profession that has lent itself to the notion that overwork remains the norm and seeking assistance is a sign of weakness.

This program will explore:

  1. The ethical dilemmas that can occur when a colleague, a supervisor or a subordinate exhibits signs of distress or impairment;
  2. The duty to report misconduct as set forth in the Rules of Professional Conduct.
  3. The responsibilities imposed by the Rules upon both supervisory and subordinate attorneys for the misconduct of attorneys and staff members.
  4. The harm that can occur to all parties by 'looking the other way' or ignoring new bad behaviors because it's 'none of my business.'
  5. The stigma that surrounds substance misuse and mental health issues in the legal profession.
  6. The free resources that Lawyers Assistance programs provide to help lawyers, judges, their families and law students.
Topics covered include:
Substance Use Attorney Wellness Law Practice Legal Ethics
Agenda:
  • The ethical dilemmas that can occur when a colleague, a supervisor or a subordinate exhibits signs of distress or impairment

  • The duty to report misconduct as set forth in the Rules of Professional Conduct

  • The responsibilities imposed by the Rules upon both supervisory and subordinate attorneys for the misconduct of attorneys and staff members

  • The harm that can occur to all parties by "looking the other way" or ignoring new bad behaviors because it's "none of my business”

  • The stigma that surrounds substance misuse and mental health issues in the legal profession

  • A “master plan” for reducing distress and impairment

  • The free resources that Lawyers Assistance programs provide to help lawyers, judges, their families and law students

  • Q&A (As Time Permits)
Read More ›
Duration of this webinar: 60 minutes
Originally broadcast: April 14, 2026 10:00 AM PT
Speaker
Brian S. Quinn
Brian S. Quinn Education and Outreach Coordinator
Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania

Brian S. Quinn, Esquire is a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania who currently serves as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, Inc., a Lawyers Assistance Program established in 1988 for the purpose of helping lawyers, judges and law students recover from alcoholism, drug addiction and mental health disorders. Read More ›

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

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Alabama CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Ethics

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2026

Alaska CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Ethics

Earn Credit Until: April 13, 2031

California CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Prevention and Detection Competence

Earn Credit Until: June 30, 2026

Delaware CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Enhanced Ethics

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2026

Hawaii CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Ethics

Earn Credit Until: April 13, 2028

Illinois CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Professional Responsibility - Mental Health / Substance Abuse

Earn Credit Until: April 13, 2028

Nebraska CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Professional Responsibility

Earn Credit Until: April 14, 2028

New Jersey CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.20 Ethics/Professionalism

Earn Credit Until: April 13, 2027

North Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Professional Well-Being

Earn Credit Until: February 28, 2027

Ohio CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Attorney Professional Conduct

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2026

Oklahoma CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Legal Ethics and Professionalism

Earn Credit Until: April 14, 2027

Pennsylvania CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Ethics, Professionalism, or Substance Abuse

Earn Credit Until: April 13, 2028

South Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Substance Abuse/Mental Health

Difficulty: All Levels

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2026

Texas CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Legal Ethics/Professional Responsibility

Earn Credit Until: March 31, 2027

Utah CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Professionalism and Civility

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2026

Vermont CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Attorney Wellness

Earn Credit Until: April 14, 2031


This presentation is approved for one hour of Ethics CLE credit in Alabama, one hour of Ethics CLE credit in Alaska, one hour of Prevention and Detection Competence CLE credit in California, one hour of Enhanced Ethics CLE credit in Delaware, one hour of Ethics CLE credit in Hawaii, one hour of Professional Responsibility - Mental Health / Substance Abuse CLE credit in Illinois, one hour of Professional Responsibility CLE credit in Nebraska, one hour of Professional Well-Being CLE credit in North Carolina, one hour of Attorney Professional Conduct CLE credit in Ohio, one hour of Legal Ethics and Professionalism CLE credit in Oklahoma, 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, and one hour of Attorney Wellness CLE credit in Vermont. 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.

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