VJLAP Annual Fall Retreat: CLE Session #4

Status of Diversity in the Need for and Use of VJLAP Services

• Date: Saturday, September 18, 2021
• Time: 10:45 am – 12:15 pm
• Credits: 1.5 CLE (pending)

Registration Required:  Visit the Retreat Event Page to purchase a “ticket.”

Written Materials:

• Power Point Diversity Panel – September 18 2021
• Diversity CLE – Fall Retreat 2021 Written Materials

Summary:

“Diversity and Inclusion” efforts recognize the need for equity for all members of the legal profession. In so doing, identifying and addressing the risks, vulnerabilities, and barriers to equity is of primary importance. There are disparities in many racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities in this country in mental health concerns, access to services, and mental health outcomes for multiple factors (e.g., cultural stigma surrounding mental health care, discrimination, a lack of awareness about mental health, structural barriers to accessing mental health treatment, inequities in socioeconomic status). Research has identified disparities in regard to risk, prevalence, course and treatment of mental disorders. Diverse lawyers have the occupational risks in the practice of law as well as those that are population specific (e.g., history of marginalization, intergenerational historical trauma, lower measures on the social determinants of physical health, discrimination). Data show that additional workplace stressors and the pandemic have added to the stress of practicing law and to diverse lawyers specifically.

The presentation will provide a brief overview of the statistics on (i) addiction and mental health disorders; (ii) impediments to accessing services; and (iii) the proportional rates for accessing services in the general population, in the legal community, and in diverse populations. The program will review what panelists have seen within their work communities on the risks for mental health problems and barriers to identifying and addressing mental health needs that are unique to diverse lawyer populations – from the perspective of private firms (large, small, and solo), government, and the judiciary. Additionally, the program will briefly explore the intersection of addiction and mental health and the disciplinary system and how delay in accessing services and receipt of mental health services have impacted disciplinary cases. Finally, this program will also discuss ways to reduce barriers to asking for and accessing help, including working with VJLAP.

Panelists:

Renu Brennan (Virginia State Bar Counsel)

Renu currently services as Bar Counsel for the Virginia State Bar. She served as Assistant Bar Counsel for the Bar from 2008 to 2016 and has served as Secretary of Lawyers Helping Lawyers and as a member of the ABA Standing Committee on Client Protection. She was a faculty member for the Virginia State Bar Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course from 2008 to 2011 and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Virginia since 2007. She also served as co-chair of the Judicial Nominations Committee of APABA-VA from 2009 to 2011. Ms. Brennan has participated as an instructor in the Virginia Bar Association’s Rule of Law program.

Prior to coming to the Bar, she was a partner with the firm of Vandeventer Black, LLP, where she handled professional malpractice and commercial litigation. From 1998 to 2004, Ms. Brennan was with the firm of Wright, Robinson, Osthimer & Tatum in Richmond, Virginia. Ms. Brennan is licensed in Virginia, the District of Columbia, and California, where she practiced in Los Angeles. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a law degree from Boston University School of Law.

Stephen Flores (Flores Law, LLC)

Raised in Roanoke, Virginia, Stephen grew up learning the value of helping others. After graduating from the University of Virginia, he worked as a deputy clerk in the D.C. Court, where he helped pro se individuals with accessing the court. He obtained his law degree from the University of Richmond and has lived in Richmond ever since. After practicing bankruptcy at another firm, Stephen began his bankruptcy with the mission of helping his clients get a fresh start.

The Honorable Helivi L. Holland (Suffolk General District Court)

Judge Holland is a district court judge for the 5^th Judicial District in Virginia. She previously served as Suffolk’s City Attorney and as the Director of the state Department of Juvenile Justice. Judge Holland also previously worked as a deputy city attorney in Suffolk and, prior to being in the Suffolk City Attorney’s office, was a prosecutor in the Portsmouth and Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s offices, where she prosecuted major juvenile crimes.

Judge Holland is a member of First Baptist Church Mahan Street and a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. in the Suffolk Alumnae Chapter. Ms. Holland was elected to a two-year term as Old Dominion Bar Association President May 30, 2014. She is on the Virginia Judges and Lawyer’s Assistance Program’s Board of Directors and has served on the boards of directors at the Children’s Center, Suffolk Education Foundation, Suffolk chapter of the American Red Cross and the Genieve Shelter. For 12 years, she also served as an adjunct professor at Paul D. Camp Community College, teaching on two campuses as well as at a Virginia Department of Corrections facility.

Mike Herring (McGuire Woods)

Mike is a trial lawyer with experience resolving commercial litigation, government investigations, and white-collar criminal defense matters for individuals and corporations. After serving 13 years as Richmond commonwealth’s attorney, winning re-election three times, Mike has earned the respect and admiration of the legal community in Virginia and beyond. Leveraging this experience, he serves clients in a wide array of complex commercial litigation. Herring specializes in commercial litigation, government investigations and white collar criminal defense matters with McGuire Woods.

During his tenure as Richmond commonwealth’s attorney — the city’s top prosecutor — Mike managed an office of 40 lawyers, led high profile criminal prosecutions, and was appointed to head politically sensitive investigations involving alleged conduct of top statewide elected officials. He helped Richmond police develop strategies to reduce homicides and violent crimes dramatically and implemented groundbreaking criminal justice reforms adopted by other Virginia localities.

Prior to Mike’s government service, he was a law firm partner representing clients in medical malpractice, criminal defense and personal injury matters. He is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Mike is active in community and legal organizations and frequently presents at conferences and programs devoted to improving the criminal justice system. Mike also is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Richmond School of Law.