Gambling: the Secret Addiction (Webinar)

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Recent studies have shown that there has been a dramatic increase in impairment due to alcoholism, drug addiction and mental health disorders among members of the legal profession. The statistics are compelling and clearly indicate that 1 out of 3 attorneys will likely have a need for substance use or mental health services at some point in their careers.

In 2018, the United States Supreme Court, in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, held that sports gambling was legal in all of the United States. By 2019, Pennsylvania had added online gambling accessible by smartphones, computers and tablets, thus becoming one of the country's largest gambling revenue-producing states. With it came the compulsive gambler.

This program will explore not only gambling disorder, but also the connection between gambling and the more well-known forms of impairment and why lawyers are at higher risk to develop problems. This problem has only been exacerbated by the stress, anxiety and isolation caused by COVID-19. The results are startling.

The presenter will discuss:

• The early warning signs of impairment and how they relate to gambling disorders. Special attention will be given to the connection between COVID-19 and its impact on social isolation, stress, anxiety, depression and gambling disorders.
• Existing barriers that prevent lawyers and judges from seeking the help they need and the role that education plays in breaking the stigma and fear associated with addiction and mental illness in the legal profession.
• Ethical considerations unique to the lawyer who suffers from a gambling disorder.
• The free services that Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers provides to attorneys, judges, their family members and law students.

Provider:
Jenkins Law Library, an accredited provider under the Pennsylvania CLE Board's Rules, will serve as the CLE provider for this course. The course has been approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board for 1.0 hour of CLE credit in ethics.

This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 1.0 hour of total CLE credit in ethics/professionalism.

Note:
This webinar will be presented using Zoom, a free videoconferencing service. For more information on Zoom, please visit the Zoom Support page.