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MCLE Series (cont’d)
Day twO of the MABA CLE series featured
long-time MABA members and experienced
criminal defense attorneys Richard Chacon and
Elsa Leyva. Studies show that 21% of working
lawyers are considered problem drinkers.
28% of lawyers suffer with depression and up to
70% of legal malpractice issues are associated
with substance abuse. High stress jobs and the
pressure to succeed are known to drive workers
towards substance abuse as a short-term strategy Addiction in the legal profession often
to help them cope. begins in law school. Heavy workloads
coupled with the pressure to compete
causes mental health problems for some,
which is often directly related to drug and
alcohol abuse. According to one study, one
of every five lawyers has used alcohol or
some other drug to excess in their lives. For
the overwhelming majority of lawyers,
alcohol abuse started after entering law
school. The current pandemic has resulted
in increased isolation, depression, and
exacerbated other mental health challenges
that contribute to alcohol and substance
Day three of our MCLE series closed with abuse. Providing one hour of Competence
Issues specialty credit, our panelists shared
an excellent Ethics presentation by Robert L. Kehr resources and tools to help attorneys who
and Rachelle Cohen, of Kehr, Schiff, Crane & Cohen,
may be experiencing challenges that may
LLP. Moderated by Heriberto Veliz, from the law contribute to alcohol and substance abuse.
firm of Perez & Caballero, APC, panelists provided
guidance for lawyers on ethical issues that lawyers
may face during the pandemic including: office
closures and limitations; temporary living situation
changes; remote working; lawyer illness; caregiving MABA thanks its panelists
obligations; staffing challenges; clients facing declines for lending their time and
and untested legal issues. expertise to its MCLE
Series.
2021Volume 17 | Issue 1 | Page 6
