WisLAP Seminar: Mental Health Literacy for Lawyers
Mental Health Literacy for Lawyers
In-person seminar: Friday, May 31 from 9 a.m. until 4:35 p.m. at the State Bar Center
Registration is free for law student associate members!
Co-produced with the State Bar of Wisconsin
Lawyers Assistance Program (WisLAP)
How mental health frameworks can make you a better lawyer
Lawyers often work on highly charged emotional cases, with clients profoundly affected by the situations that motivate them to seek legal services. Yet, law school may not have provided education on how the mental health of clients affects legal processes and outcomes. Familiarity with fundamental clinical frameworks in mental health — particularly personality disorders, mood disorders, and trauma — gives lawyers deeper understandings of their clients in mediation, arbitration, civil litigation, and criminal proceedings. Understanding mental health can contribute significantly to attorneys’ competence and professionalism, as well as better outcomes for clients.
Mental Health Literacy for Lawyers offers insights into narcissistic, borderline, and anti-social personality disorders and how to work effectively in situations shaped by their traits. You will learn how anxiety, panic, acute stress, and post-traumatic stress can interfere with your clients’ ability to function in legal proceedings and how you can help overcome these challenges to create better legal and personal outcomes.
Plus, you’ll find out what lawyers need to know about suicidality and risk assessment processes for their clients’ benefit and their own safety, along with considerations from various legal angles of Wisconsin’s Chapter 51 standards for mental health emergency detentions and civil commitment evaluations.
There are also additional webcast seminar opportunities available throughout the summer.
You can find more information regarding the schedule, speakers, and how to register on the website here.
Contact: Amber Ault, Ph.D., MSW, State Bar of Wisconsin, WisLAP