Lori Ann Buzz, Esq., sent off 2021 as panelist on the NJICLE Webcast “Wrestling with Stress and Ethical Challenges: Resilience Training in the Long-Haul for the Practice of Law,” which took place on Friday, December 31, 2021.
Michael Kahn and Chris Osbourn of Reel Time CLE will be presenting, and Ms. Buza joined other panelists, Robert B. Hille, Esq., NJSBA Past President, Greenbaum Rowe Smith & Davis, LLP, Roseland, and Valerie Jackson, Esq., Office of the Public Defender, North Brunswick, for a unique, highly interactive program built around the critically acclaimed 2011 film Win Win starring Paul Giamatti. In the film, Mr. Giamatti played Mike Flaherty, an attorney trying to juggle the demands of a struggling law practice, his young family, and the hapless high school wrestling team that he coached. The discussion explored how Mike Flaherty’s efforts to navigate the many challenges he faced on all three fronts, while often well-intentioned, ultimately led him to an ethical compromise that could have had devastating consequences for his practice, his client, and the people he loved most.
This program was designed for anyone struggling with mile-long “to do” lists, demanding schedules, and stress from over commitments. Ms. Buza hopes that attendees left encouraged, reinvigorated, and better equipped to:
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Understand the interrelationship between stress and ethical decision-making;
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Learn to recognize and better understand the warning signs of stress overload;
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Understand the link between the ethical and professional demands of a law practice and an attorney’s personal commitments and pressures;
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Recognize the importance of identifying and utilizing available resources to avoid isolation; and
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Identify and implement practical ways to manage professional pressures and stress, as encountered every day and during “crunch time.”
This summary is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. This information should not be reused without permission.
