On Demand
Audio
Shades of Gray: Perspectives on Aging Attorneys
Produced on October 22, 2018
Course Information
Course Description
It’s been called the “Senior Tsunami” – the wave of attorneys reaching retirement age and beyond. This program will cover the challenges faced by the profession, and those working within it, with an aging, and often times, cognitively impaired population. How do you respond when an attorney begins to exhibit signs of cognitive impairment? What are your ethical responsibilities to the firm, its clients and the lawyer? What resources are available to guide your decision-making and find help? What rules/policies are currently in place to govern the disciplinary problems that often times result, and what are some suggestions for the future?
We will discuss answers to these questions, as well as the medical issues associated with aging, the effects on an attorneys’ ability to practice, disciplinary perspectives, risk management and potential malpractice actions, and the resources available to those impacted by the “graying” of the profession.
Learning Objectives:
- Explore the challenges faced by the legal profession due to the increasing wave of aging attorneys
- Examine how to respond when an attorney exhibits signs of cognitive impairment, including an understanding of your ethical responsibilities
- Review resources available to attorneys seeking guidance on these matters
Credit Information
Faculty
Tracy Kepler
CNA
Tracy L. Kepler is the Director of Risk Management Consulting for CNA.
Ms. Kepler is formerly the Director of the American Bar Association’s Center for Professional Responsibility (CPR), providing national leadership in developing and interpreting standards and scholarly resources in legal and judicial ethics, professional regulation, professionalism and client protection. In that role, she manages and coordinates the efforts of 18 staff members and 13 entities including five ABA Standing Committees (Ethics, Professionalism, Professional Regulation, Client Protection, and Specialization), the ABA/BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct, the Center’s Coordinating Council and other Center working committees.
From 2014-2016, Ms. Kepler served as an Associate Solicitor in the Office of General Counsel for the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), where she concentrated her practice in the investigation, prosecution and appeal of patent/trademark practitioner disciplinary matters before the Agency, U.S. District Courts and Federal Circuit, provided policy advice on ethics and discipline related matters to senior management, and drafted and revised Agency regulations. From 2000-2014, she served as Senior Litigation Counsel for the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC), where she investigated and prosecuted cases of attorney misconduct.
From 2009-2016, Ms. Kepler served in various capacities, including as President, on the Board of the National Organization of Bar Counsel (NOBC), a non-profit organization of legal professionals whose members enforce ethics rules that regulate the professional conduct of lawyers who practice law in the United States and abroad. Ms. Kepler also taught legal ethics as an Adjunct Professor at American University’s Washington College of Law. Committed to the promotion and encouragement of professional responsibility throughout her career, Ms. Kepler has served as the Chair of the CPR’s CLE Committee and its National Conference Planning Committee, and is a frequent presenter of ethics related topics to various national, state and local organizations. She has also served as the NOBC Liaison to the ABA CPR Standing Committees, and to the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP), where she was a Commission member, a member of its Advisory Committee, the Chair of its Education and Senior Lawyer Committees, and also a member of its National Conference Planning Committee. Ms. Kepler also participates as a faculty member for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) trial and deposition skills programs, and served as the Administrator of the NOBC-NITA Advanced Advocates Training Program from 2011-2015. She is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and received her law degree from New England School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts.
Reviews
Thank you
Thought Provoking
The course (suitably, I think) emphasized a compassionate approach to this very sensitive issue. It was very grounded in real-life situations and challenges.
Great presentation. Very Informative. Thank you so very much!!!
Excellent presenter and presentation.
Very thoughtful and helpful
very interesting topic.
Excellent course addressing what can be a very delicate issue.
Well delivered lecture.
Cogent
Scary for we old folk.
Great job by Ms. Kepler. Her seamless presentation of the material was truly impressive.
tough to age!
excellent and thorough coverage of the issue
Great resource
Very good overview of the issues regarding attorneys as they get older and the challenges they face.
An area to consider moving forward ...
Great, comprehensive discussion regarding the issues of aging, responsibility and dignity.
Well done - just not what I was expecting
Great Information on an extremely important topic.
My father passed away from Alzheimers, so cognitive decline is almost always on my mind. Every slip of the tongue or forgotten word is catastrophe. So, I appreciate the resources referenced during program.
Presenter’s depth of knowledge and experience shines in this helpful and well-delivered program which shares valuable information about the ethical challenges facing the wave of attorneys reaching retirement age and beyond and those working alongside these aging attorneys.
Presenter was outstanding.
Presenter very thorough.
Great topic!
Great CLE on a pertinent, though not often highlighted, topic
A very fine presentation supplemented with materials on an important subject.
Excellent course and presentation!
Excellent course!
Solid presentation.
As a seventy year old, it was illuminating to see what i should watch for. Very well presented program.
An excellent course that gave me a lot of information to think about.
Helped me very much. I am going on 75 and have decided to start transiting. The course provided me with opportunities and sources I did not know were available. Thank you. J. Grove
Engaging speaker.
Easy to listen to, well organized and presented.
Important information regarding a topic of concern to all lawyers
great topic, good presenter, thank you
Excellent program
Knowledgeable and informed speaker that kept my attention. It was very informative.
Great presentation!
This is one of the best CLE programs I have ever taken. There was lots of substantive information presented in a clear and fluid manner. Kudos to the presenter.
Excellent presentation.
The instructor was knowledgeable and explained the issues very well. This is a very difficult situation, but it is better to have the hard discussions in a kind and compassionate way.
Good program on an important issue.
vey knowledgeable and with helpful ideas
Excellent.
Good Presentation.
Great for retiring attorneys.
Excellent presentation with very knowledgeable speaker.
Interesting
Never knew about the ballroom dancing!
This program was well-structured and clearly articulated.
Great course and helpful for dealing with cognitive decline in non-lawyers (such as family members and clients) too.
good synopsis
Great webinar!
Fascinating topic.
Very interesting and enjoyable presentation in a relaxed and friendly setting.
Excellent.
Presenter did an excellent job covering a difficult and complex topic. I appreciated a "Presentation" rather than a "Reading"! I am looking forward to reviewing some of the additional resources.
Excellent presentation
Presentation was well organized and presenter was excellent and well informed.
Actually, one of the best courses I've taken. Relevant and very well presented.
A provocative subject well presented. Thank you, Lawline and Ms. Gaudet.
Very interesting and informative course
outstanding presentation and written materials/slides -- helpful advice and info to diagnose cognitive impairment and distinction from depression -- really a five star program
Excellent presenter.
One of the best presentations and most worthwhile CLE programs I've encountered in several years using Lawline. Should be "required viewing" for aging attorneys.
An excellent presentation -- thanks!!
The presenter really new her stuff. Great program!
Very helpful course!
Interesting topic and thoughtful presenter.
Very informative!
Knowledgeable, but depressing, view of aging attorneys.
Very helpful and informative.