A roundup of thorny Rule 4.3 questions, including:

• Can you communicate with a pro se party about ghostwritten pleadings?

• Must you disclose adverse authority your pro se opponent missed?

• Can you answer your opponent’s legal questions without giving legal advice?

– Eric T. Cooperstein; Law Office of Eric Cooperstein PLLC

Current events have disrupted lawyers’ professional and personal lives. Attorneys may feel like their lives seem out of control, yet they are not alone in feeling the effects of the pandemic and social unrest. Clients are affected too. Attorneys must manage their own emotions while simultaneously being sensitive and responsive to their clients. For some clients, reactions may rise to the level of impairment. Impairment comes in many forms, including substance use, addiction, or other mental impairments.

What is the lawyer’s role, responsibility, and opportunity when working with a potentially impaired client? What if the issue is not with a client but with a colleague?  This program will provide an ethical framework as well as practical guidance and resources for lawyers facing these questions.

– Chase L. Andersen, Esq.; Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers

There is a common misconception that eating disorders are a lifestyle choice. However, the mechanisms underlying eating disorders involve a complex interplay of psychological, social, and environmental factors. Research indicates that, in comparison to other professions, lawyers are at greater risk for experiencing psychological distress, eating disorders, body image concerns, and problematic eating habits.

Given the associations between heightened psychological distress, disordered eating habits, and body image concerns, there are numerous practical strategies that lawyers can incorporate into a daily routine to assist with identifying maladaptive eating habits, seeking treatment, and managing physical and psychological wellbeing..

– Jennifer Stoltenberg, Psy D., LP; Care Counseling