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Courses/Ethics & Professional Responsibility/Competence, Wellness & Substance Abuse

The Neuroscience of Decision-making for Lawyers

Leverage brain science to outmaneuver opposing counsel, predict jury behavior, and make sharper strategic choices under pressure.

Created byMarlo Lyons
Editor's Score ·5.0/5BeginnerUpdated Sep 10, 2026
The Neuroscience of Decision-making for Lawyers

What You'll Learn

check_circleRecognize how stress and fatigue affect legal decision-making
check_circleIdentify cognitive risks associated with sleep loss and substance use
check_circleApply neuroscience-based techniques to improve performance
check_circleStrengthen resilience and support sound professional judgment

About This Course

The quality of legal decision-making depends not only on legal knowledge but also on cognitive performance. Chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and substance use can impair judgment, memory, attention, and ethical decision-making, increasing the risk of mistakes in high-pressure legal environments. Understanding how the brain responds under these conditions enables lawyers to better protect both professional performance and personal wellbeing.

This practical course explores the neuroscience behind decision-making under pressure and provides evidence-based strategies for improving resilience and cognitive performance. Participants will examine how stress, fatigue, and common coping mechanisms affect executive functioning, while gaining practical techniques to recognize impairment, reduce cognitive overload, and make better decisions in demanding legal practice.

Key Topics Discussed:

  • The neuroscience of stress and decision-making
  • How chronic stress affects legal judgment and performance
  • Recognizing cognitive impairment under pressure
  • Sleep deprivation and its impact on executive function
  • Cognitive warning signs and performance self-assessment
  • Substance use, brain function, and ethical decision-making
  • The combined effects of stress, fatigue, and substance use
  • Brain-based techniques for improving focus and resilience
  • Practical tools for managing stress and cognitive overload
  • Building sustainable performance in legal practice
  • Developing healthy decision-making habits
  • Personal risk assessment and performance improvement strategies

Your Instructor

Marlo Lyons
Marlo Lyons

Executive, Team, & Career Coach

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Marlo Lyons is a California licensed attorney and powerhouse executive, career, and team coach who partners with C-suite leaders, law firm partners, in-house chief legal officers, and high-achieving professionals to elevate their leadership, accelerate their careers, and lead with greater confidence and influence. Before transitioning fully to executive coaching, Marlo spent years as in-house production risk counsel at NBC and Viacom (now Paramount), giving her firsthand insight into the high-stakes, high-pressure environments where lawyers and executives are expected to lead, often without any formal training in how to do so effectively. Marlo brings more than two decades of experience at the intersection of law, business strategy, and people development. Known for her no-fluff approach and bold insights, she coaches leaders, including many attorneys navigating the shift from top performer to executive, on how to strengthen executive presence, manage high-stakes decision-making, and lead with intentionality and emotional intelligence. A regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, Marlo's thought leadership has also appeared in CNN, Newsweek, Forbes, and Business Insider. She is the author of Wanted → A Board Career, and a sought-after keynote speaker and podcast guest known for delivering with authenticity, energy, and candor.

Credit Information

Professional development requirements vary by profession, country, and regulatory body. Before enrolling, review the course details and confirm that the content, learning format, and any listed credits meet your specific requirements. You are responsible for confirming eligibility with your regulator or professional association and keeping the records required for reporting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 327+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 29 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.

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