Live Event Details

Outsmarting the Lawyer Brain: Harnessing Stress for Competitive Edge — Not Addiction

Hosted by the San Diego County Law Library

Cost: Free

About the Program:  

Outsmarting the Lawyer Brain is a dynamic, evidence-based MCLE presentation designed to help attorneys recognize how stress can silently fuel a damaging cycle of maladaptive coping that, for some, leads to addiction. Blending cutting-edge neuroscience, legal-industry research, and practical psychological tools, this one-hour MCLE teaches participants how to identify early warning signs of stress-related emotional problems in themselves and others, and how to interrupt destructive patterns before they escalate into substance abuse. Participants will learn effective strategies to reduce — and even harness — high stress in ways that enhance performance both at work and at home. This presentation has been approved by the State Bar of California for one (1) hour of MCLE credit in the Prevention & Detection of Impairment (Competence) subfield as it addresses prevention, detection, and treatment of substance use and mental health issues that may impair professional competence.

About the Speaker:  

Philip Douglas Lewis, JD, MA, LMFT, CGP is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #150760) and Certified Group Psychotherapist in private practice at Integrative Psychotherapy Group in Beverly Hills, California. He helps couples and individuals discover effective ways to navigate their relationship challenges such as anxiety, substance use disorders, and compulsive behaviors (i.e., problematic smartphone use, social media and video game addiction, compulsive sex or gambling). Mr. Lewis brings decades of both formal and informal experience supporting individuals in recovery from addiction. Most recently, he facilitated therapy groups at La Fuente Hollywood Treatment Center’s Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs (PHP/IOP) for LGBTQ+ addiction treatment. He completed a two-year clinical training program at the esteemed Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills, where he provided psychotherapy for adults, adolescents, couples, & groups. He holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles.

Before becoming a psychotherapist, Mr. Lewis had a distinguished career in law and public service. From 2004 to 2008, he practiced entertainment litigation as an associate at O’Melveny & Myers LLP in Century City, California. He also served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Jacqueline Chooljian at the United States District Court for the Central District of California (2008 to 2019), and to the Honorable Lisa Margaret Smith in the Southern District of New York (2002 to 2004). Earlier in his legal career, Mr. Lewis served as Deputy District Director and General Counsel to U.S. Congressman James H. Maloney in Connecticut and as Finance and FCC Compliance Director for the Congressman’s campaign committee. He also taught legal writing and real estate law as an adjunct professor at Western Connecticut State University. Mr. Lewis earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Vermont Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review. He has been admitted to practice in California, Connecticut (ret.), and before multiple federal courts including the Central District of California, the Southern District of New York, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

Information regarding Philip Douglas Lewis’s practice and contact information can be found here.

MCLE: One hour of participatory Competence: Protection & Detection MCLE credit. For MCLE Credit, attorneys must enter their California State Bar number when registering. 

Registration: REGISTER HERE

After registering via our Zoom portal, you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom with the login information. Please check your spam/junk folder. 

Attendance Certificate: Once we verify attendance via the login and log out times, you will receive an emailed Attendance Certificate from refdesk@sdlawlibrary.org. This may take up to 24 hours, please check your spam/junk folder.