The Attorney’s Roadmap to Boundaries and a Balanced Legal Career

Cari L. Sheehan | Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

With over 15 years of legal experience in civil litigation, conflicts of interest, and professional responsibility, Cari serves as Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP’s Assistant General Counsel. In this role, she advises firm attorneys with respect to ethics compliance, risk prevention, and conflicts of interest. In addition, she assists in the review and negotiation of outside counsel guidelines, conflict waivers and engagement letters, and other items with ethical implications. In addition, she assists in providing ethical training and education within the firm to its attorneys and staff.

Cari is an Adjunct Professor at the IU Robert H. McKinney School where she teaches Professional Responsibility. She is also a former Assistant Clinical Professor of Business Law and Ethics at the Kelley School of Business. She is passionate about promoting ethical awareness, integrity, and professionalism in the legal and business fields and contributing to the advancement of knowledge and practice in these domains. Cari is a frequent presenter and author on ethics and professionalism in the legal industry. She is a reoccurring author with the Res Gestae regarding the Ethics Curbstone and has been quoted in publications for her knowledge on ethical topics. Cari is also an avid speaker having given over 200 seminars on ethics and professionalism for various local and national platforms. Her primary area of research is regarding the ethics of AI and how it affects the legal and business community.

I. Understanding the impact of high-pressure legal work on mental and physical well-being | 2:00pm – 2:15pm

II. Recognizing the signs of burnout, chronic stress, and overcommitment | 2:15pm – 2:30pm

III. Practical techniques for setting firm boundaries with clients, colleagues, and supervisors | 2:30pm – 2:45pm

IV. Strategies for prioritizing tasks, managing workload efficiently, and avoiding unrealistic deadlines | 2:45pm – 3:00pm

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

V. Effective communication techniques to enforce boundaries without damaging professional relationships | 3:10pm – 3:25pm

VI. Stress management tools to maintain focus, productivity, and overall well-being | 3:25pm – 3:40pm

VII. Creating a sustainable work-life balance: Integrating professional responsibilities with personal fulfillment | 3:40pm – 4:10pm