April 16: Seattle + Webcast - Life After Meth: Addiction and Recovery in the Legal Community

Dr. Andy Benjamin of the University of Washington School of Law and Department of Psychology will present data addressing the risk factors for addiction and other mental health issues such as depression that are particularly prevalent among attorneys. Douglas Wilson “Wil” Miller, a litigator in private practice, will discuss his personal story of addiction, arrest, incarceration and recovery. He hopes this will increase your awareness of the issues faced by lawyers addicted to drugs or alcohol, and their struggles in achieving and maintaining sobriety.
All are welcome to attend. Lawyers who are not members of the WSBA can register by creating a nonmember WSBA profile for free.
Title:
Life After Meth: Addiction and Recovery in the Legal Community
When/Where:
April 16, 2014
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
WSBA Conference Center
1501 4th Ave Ste 308
Seattle, WA 98101-1660
Also Available As Webcast - Preregister Now!
CLE Credits:

• Washington State : Approved for 1.50 Ethics Credits, Id = 365176.
• Alaska: Alaska Bar members may claim credit for attendance at CLE programs offered in or from other states if the program has been accredited by another MCLE jurisdiction
• Arizona: The State Bar of Arizona does not accredit programs for the MCLE requirement; attorneys report their activities by affidavit.
• California: If the attorney is physically located outside of California when listening to the webcast, credit may be claimed since it has been approved for credit by Washington State.
• Colorado: Colorado attorneys should submit a Colorado Affidavit form along with a statement certifying that the CLE program is accredited in another mandatory CLE state.
• Florida: Courses approved by other state bars are generally acceptable for use toward satisfying CLE requirement but attorneys must first submit a CLE Application for Course Attendance Credit.
• Hawaii: If the attorney is physically located outside of Hawaii when listening to the webcast, credit may be claimed since it has been approved for credit by Washington State
• Maine: Credit hours for activities approved by another MCLE state will be accepted for identical credit by the Board of Overseers of the Bar in Maine upon the Board's receipt of evidence of such certification as issued by that state.
• Montana: Montana will honor the approval given by other CLE jurisdictions. Simply attach documentation of the other state's approval to your affidavit at the end of the reporting year. It may  suffice to print the webpage listing this event, but if not, contact me and I'll help.

By:
WSBA Lawyers Assistance Program
Speakers:
In addition to being a former prosecutor, Wil is also a former methamphetamine addict with 13-years recovery under his belt. In the late 1990’s, Wil was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Washington and subsequently stipulated to his own disbarment. In 2009, Wil represented himself before the Character and Fitness Board of the WSBA, and in a 7 to 3 decision was successful in arguing for his reinstatement. On June 10, 2010, the Washington Supreme Court officially reinstated Wil as a lawyer. Wil joins us to discuss his personal story of addiction, arrest, incarceration and recovery with the hope that it will help increase awareness regarding the many complex issues often faced by lawyers addicted to drugs or alcohol and the struggles they face in achieving and maintaining sobriety.
Topics:

• Risk factors for addiction common among attorneys
• The effects of addiction on the practice of law
• The ethical and practice implications of a descent into addiction
• Reasons why methamphetamine is more often more addicting than other substances
• The cycle of addiction and withdrawal
• Psychological, social and physical problems experienced by addicts in recovery
• Extended recovery – incorporating recovery into everyday life – for life.

Speakers:

• G. Andrew H. Benjamin  is a national authority on addiction and mental health among attorneys, having conducted research on law students and practicing attorneys since the mid-1980’s. He has 59 peer-reviewed articles published in Psychology, Law and Psychiatry Journals, many focusing on issues of ethics.
• Douglas Wilson “Wil” Miller is a litigator in private practice in Seattle who previously worked as supervising prosecutor in Queens, New York and King County, Washington. Wil is a volunteer with WSBA’s Lawyers Assistance Program.

Cost:
Free. It does not matter which state you're licensed in; all are welcome.
More Information And Registration