Jodi Debbrecht Switalski
Founder and Chief Consultant | Switalski Law, PLLC
Elizabeth Eckhardt, LCSW, PhD
Director | Nassau County Bar AssociationSubstance Abuse and Mental Health: Critical Insights for Legal Professionals | Live Webinar
Broadcast Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM (ET) | On-Demand 24hrs Later
Substance use disorders and mental health challenges are increasingly recognized as critical risks in the legal profession. Attorneys experience significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and substance misuse than the general population, with suicide tragically the third leading cause of death in the field. These challenges not only endanger individual well-being but also impair judgment, heighten malpractice exposure, and invite regulatory scrutiny.
Join Jodi Debbrecht Switalski, Founder and Chief Consultant of Switalski Law, PLLC, and Elizabeth Eckhardt, LCSW, PhD, Director of Nassau County Bar Association as they explore the intersection of impairment and professional responsibility, providing practical strategies to identify warning signs, navigate ethical obligations, and safeguard clients, colleagues, and organizations. Attendees will also learn about Lawyer Assistance Programs (LAPs), available in most states, which offer free, confidential support to lawyers, judges, law students, legal staff, and their families.
Key Topics:
- Recognizing early signs of impairment, burnout, and substance misuse
- Navigating ethical duties when performance is compromised
- Strategies to reduce malpractice exposure and organizational liability
- Suicide prevention, resilience, and wellness best practices
- Leveraging confidential resources, including Lawyer Assistance Programs (LAPs)
- Real-world case examples and disciplinary insights
Who Should Attend:
- General Counsel & In-House Counsel
- Law Firm Partners & Managing Attorneys
- Chief Compliance & Ethics Officers
- Risk Managers & Insurance Professionals
- Human Resources & Legal Operations Leaders
- Judicial Officers & Bar Regulators
- Litigation Support & Corporate Governance Professionals
Register for this course by clicking the “Take this Course” at the top of the page.
CLE Credit:
Course Level: Intermediate | Advance Preparation: Print and review course materials
Method of Presentation: Live Webinar | Prerequisite: None
Course Code: 1411281 | Total Credit: 1.5
CLE Credits:
CA CLE 1.5 General – Approved Until: 6/30/2025
PA CLE 1.5 General – Approved Until: 8/14/2026
VT CLE 1.5 General – Approved Until: 12/31/2025
NJ CLE 1.5 General – Credits through Reciprocity
NY CLE 1.5 Areas of Professional Practice – Credits through Reciprocity
AR CLE 1.5 General – Credits through Reciprocity
CT CLE 1.5 General – Credits through Reciprocity
NH CLE 1.5 General – Meets the requirements of NH Supreme Court Rule 53
MO CLE 1.5 General – Approved Until: 8/14/2024
Pending CLE Application:
MS, GA, TN, WI
Self-Apply:
AL, CO, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IO, KS, KY, LA, NC, ME, MN, MS, MT, NE, NV, NM, ND, OH, OK, OR, SC, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WY
If you’d like us to apply for CLE, you may opt to pay the CLE processing fee here.
No MCLE Requirements:
DC, MD, MA, MI, SD
Not Eligible for CLE:
AK, AZ, HI, IL
Instructions for Participating the Live Webinar
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- Please Register for the course by clicking the "Take this Course" button if you have not already registered.
- Check Your Email – 24 hours before the webinar, you will receive an email with all necessary instructions, including access details and course materials. This information will also be posted on lesson when it is available.
- Download Course Materials – Course materials will be available for download **24-48 hours before** the live webinar. Be sure to review them in advance. The Link to download is available by clicking the lesson tab.
- Join the Webinar – Follow the instructions in the email to access the live broadcast at the scheduled time.
- Note the Secret Words – During the webinar, secret words will be announced periodically. Please write them down.
- Take the Quiz – After the webinar, click on the quiz link below and enter the secret words to complete the quiz.
- Print Your Certificate – Upon completing the quiz, you will be able to print your Certificate of Attendance, which includes instructions on how to obtain CLE, CPE, or other applicable credits for the course.
- On-Demand Access – The on-demand version of this course will be available 24-48 hours after the live webinar. If you miss the live presentation or need to review the content, you will have access to the on-demand version as an enrolled student. To access on-demand content, click the lesson and follow the instructions.
- Support: If you have any questions, please refer to the email instructions or contact support: support@theknowledgegroup.zohodesk.com.