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If there is one word we continue to hear more than any other term as we continue to navigate through the “new normal” world, it is “burnout.”
But what is burnout? What does it look like and feel like? More importantly, what can we do to prevent the normal stress and “lawyer anxiety” so common in our profession from developing into the physically and emotionally draining state known as Burnout?
Recent studies have shown that there has been a dramatic increase in impairment due to alcoholism, 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.
Mr. Quinn will discuss:
Brian S. Quinn, Esquire is a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania who currently serves as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, Inc., a Lawyers Assistance Program established in 1988 for the purpose of helping lawyers, judges and law students recover from alcoholism, drug addiction and mental health disorders.
Mr. Quinn obtained his undergraduate degree in 1970, his law degree in 1973 and a certificate in Drug and Alcohol counselling in 2012, from Villanova University. A member of the Pennsylvania and Delaware County Bar Associations, he has been a private practitioner for over 45 years, having litigated both civil and criminal matters during his career.
Mr. Quinn also worked in the field of Alcohol and Drug Counseling in suburban Philadelphia from 2011 to 2017, allowing him to gain both practical and clinical experience with individuals suffering from alcohol, substance use and mental health disorders.
Mr. Quinn is a past member of the Board of Directors of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania and served as a peer volunteer for over six years prior to accepting his current role as the organization’s Educator in 2017. He has written articles and made presentations on many lawyer wellness topics to law firms, Bar Associations, professional organizations and legal education providers on a state, national and international level.
Lawyer Assistance Programs provide confidential services and support to judges, lawyers, and law students who are facing substance use disorders or mental health issues. If you or someone you know needs assistance, contact your state or local LAP. The ABA LAP directory gives them contact information to the MN Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers. SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
But what is burnout? What does it look like and feel like? More importantly, what can we do to prevent the normal stress and “lawyer anxiety” so common in our profession from developing into the physically and emotionally draining state known as Burnout?
Recent studies have shown that there has been a dramatic increase in impairment due to alcoholism, 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.
Mr. Quinn will discuss:
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The early warning signs of impairment, with special emphasis on stress and burnout.
- Symptoms of stress and burnout that are particularly prevalent among members of the legal profession
- Discussion will include the basic stress reactions, both physical and psychological; the difference between healthy stress and distress, with emphasis on the impact of digital hyperconnectivity on the mental health of attorneys.
- The transition from distress to burnout and how we can recognize and identify the sources of stress in our lives before burnout develops.
- Guidelines for a “master plan”, including realistic prevention strategies that work.
- Why lawyers and judges are at especially high risk to develop mental health and substance use disorders.
- The barriers that prevent lawyers and judges from seeking the help they need.
- The role that education plays in breaking the stigma and fear associated with alcoholism, substance use disorders and mental illness in the legal profession.
- The results of the 2026 ABA/Krill study that provides an update on the state of the legal profession and the mental health issues that we face.
- The free resources provided by lawyers Assistance Programs that are available to legal professionals.
Brian S. Quinn, Esquire is a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania who currently serves as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, Inc., a Lawyers Assistance Program established in 1988 for the purpose of helping lawyers, judges and law students recover from alcoholism, drug addiction and mental health disorders.
Mr. Quinn obtained his undergraduate degree in 1970, his law degree in 1973 and a certificate in Drug and Alcohol counselling in 2012, from Villanova University. A member of the Pennsylvania and Delaware County Bar Associations, he has been a private practitioner for over 45 years, having litigated both civil and criminal matters during his career.
Mr. Quinn also worked in the field of Alcohol and Drug Counseling in suburban Philadelphia from 2011 to 2017, allowing him to gain both practical and clinical experience with individuals suffering from alcohol, substance use and mental health disorders.
Mr. Quinn is a past member of the Board of Directors of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania and served as a peer volunteer for over six years prior to accepting his current role as the organization’s Educator in 2017. He has written articles and made presentations on many lawyer wellness topics to law firms, Bar Associations, professional organizations and legal education providers on a state, national and international level.
Lawyer Assistance Programs provide confidential services and support to judges, lawyers, and law students who are facing substance use disorders or mental health issues. If you or someone you know needs assistance, contact your state or local LAP. The ABA LAP directory gives them contact information to the MN Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers. SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
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