With Dr. Ilona Salmons 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges and disruptions on a global scale. While the public health crisis has impacted the workforce at large, the current climate stands to exacerbate health issues among attorneys, who already struggle with higher-than-average rates of addiction, depression, and other mental health conditions. This presentation will examine the changed legal landscape and the potential impact on professional competence and well-being. The presentation will conclude with practical tips and coping strategies attorneys can employ to proactively manage their emotional well-being.

Key Discussion Points:

• Strategies to navigate uncertainty in the changed professional landscape
• How leaders can effectively manage unprecedented challenges to proactively promote attorneywell-being
• The detection of substance abuse and mental health issues in the legal profession and the negative effects on professional competence

Dr. Ilona Salmons is a psychotherapist and leadership consultant who works with high-achieving professionals and organizations to promote mental wellness in the workplace. A former HR Manager, Ilona understands the importance of improving employee well-being in order to achieve and maintain a high-performance work culture. She is passionate about creating workplaces where lawyers can thrive— to the benefit of their firms, their clients, and themselves.

Ilona received her B.A. in Psychology from UCLA and her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine. She obtained her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine University, where she focused her research on the legal profession and published her dissertation, Best Practices for Managing Burnout in Attorneys. Ilona is a psychotherapist licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and has a private practice in Los Angeles. She is also a state-qualified professor with the Los Angeles Community College District, where she teaches Psychology and Professional Development courses.