This program addresses a reality many criminal defense lawyers eventually face but rarely plan for: how to leave practice responsibly, intentionally, and on their own terms. It focuses on exit planning not as a single retirement date, but as a process that protects clients, preserves professional reputation, and safeguards personal well-being. By reframing retirement as a transition rather than an ending, the program helps experienced lawyers confront the practical, ethical, and personal consequences of delaying—or avoiding—succession planning.

Criminal defense lawyers who watch this program will gain clear guidance on how to wind down or transition a practice without creating chaos for clients, courts, family members, or colleagues. The program walks through critical issues such as client notification, file management, trust accounts, malpractice coverage, and ethical duties when a lawyer retires, becomes incapacitated, or unexpectedly cannot continue practicing. It also explains realistic approaches to valuing a law practice, distinguishing between personal goodwill and transferable practice goodwill, and avoiding common misconceptions about what a criminal defense practice is actually worth in the marketplace.

Beyond logistics and valuation, the program addresses the human side of leaving practice—identity, purpose, cognitive health, and fulfillment after law. It explores why many lawyers struggle in retirement and how staying mentally engaged, socially connected, and purposeful can reduce decline and increase long-term satisfaction. By combining practical exit strategies with thoughtful planning for life after practice, this program equips criminal defense attorneys to protect their legacy, reduce risk, and approach the next chapter with clarity, dignity, and control.

Note: This program appears in more than one collection on NACDL MyCLE On-Demand. Before purchasing, please ensure that you do not already have access to this program.