The Lawyer Well-Being Series - Vicarious Traumatization
Faculty
- Jeffrey Fortgang, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist and long-time staff member of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers.
Dr. Fortgang will review the concept of Vicarious Traumatization, specifically as it relates to the legal profession including:
- How it differs from PTSD
- Features and symptoms: how the clinical picture differs from (and overlaps with) burnout, depression, and moral injury.
- Types of legal work that pose particular risks for vicarious traumatization.
- The importance of finding ways to counterbalance traumatic exposure.
This program is online only and will be recorded. All registrants will receive a link to the video recording following the session.
The SJC Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being, The Social Law Library, and Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers.
CPCS approved 1.0 credits per session for the Criminal Trials and Appeals, Mental Health Trial and Appeals, YAD Trials and Appeals and SDP/SORB panels.
CLE credit, when applicable, is only granted when 80% of the live webinar is attended.
To receive credit, attendees must be logged on for a minimum of 80% of the program time. Certificates will be emailed to all qualifying attendees. Additional Information: The views and opinions expressed in programs offered by the Social Law Library are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Library. Online registration is encouraged. For assistance, questions on group discounts, accommodations requests, special billing, program content, out-of-state CLE credits, and general contact CLE Coordinator, Michael Saporito by email at [email protected]. Note: Registrations accepted in order of receipt. Registration fees are non-refundable. Most Social Law Library CLE events are recorded and recordings are sent to all who are registered. The recording is available by digital download, generally within a week after the program date. CLE credit, when applicable, is only granted when 80 % of the live webinar is attended. To insure getting the video, please register.
Faculty
- Tracey Meyers, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist with Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers
This program will explore:
- How to recognize early signs of strain.
- The impact of stress on the nervous system.
- Highlight the resources available to support lawyers’ mental and emotional health using self-compassion tools.
About the Series
Join Dr. Jeff Fortgang from Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers for a 2-Part series. The Legal Profession & Substance Use Disorders: Awareness. Recovery. Change.
- The first session will explore the scope and impact of substance use disorders within the legal profession.
- The second session will focus on treatment, recovery, and the process of returning to personal and professional well-being.
Attorneys report feeling burned out 42% of the time—a number that rises to 51% for mid- and senior-level associates (Bloomberg Law Well-Being Report). Burnout is not a failure of endurance issue; it's the result of over-functioning on depleted systems. While lawyers are trained to be high performers, they are rarely taught how to protect their greatest asset: themselves.
This masterclass provides a framework to build a system that matches your ambition. One that builds you up rather than brings you down.