Managing High-Conflict Personalities in Law: Skills Every Attorney Needs

Bill Eddy
Bill Eddy | High Conflict Institute

Bill Eddy was a therapist for 12 years (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), then a lawyer for 15 years (Certified Family Law Specialist), then the Senior Family mediator for 15 years at the National Conflict Resolution Center in San Diego, California. He is the co-founder and Director of Innovation of the High Conflict Institute, for which he has trained lawyers, mediators, judges, mental health professionals and others on managing high-conflict personalities in 40 states and 14 countries.

On-Demand: October 30, 2025

2 hour CLE

Tuition: $195.00
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Program Summary

This program will address the predictable dynamics of five high-conflict personalities, including narcissistic, borderline, antisocial, histrionic and paranoid types. Four common approaches to avoiding them will be explained and why. Then, four key skills to use with any high-conflict person will be presented. Tips for dealing with high-conflict clients and opposing counsel will be addressed for courtroom practice as well as out-of-court negotiations.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • Five high conflict personality types and their common conflict dynamics
  • Four approaches to avoid with them
  • Four key skills to use with them
  • Tips for managing high-conflict clients
  • Tips for managing high-conflict opposing counsel

Closed-captioning available

Speakers

Bill Eddy | High Conflict Institute

Bill Eddy was a therapist for 12 years (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), then a lawyer for 15 years (Certified Family Law Specialist), then the Senior Family mediator for 15 years at the National Conflict Resolution Center in San Diego, California. He is the co-founder and Director of Innovation of the High Conflict Institute, for which he has trained lawyers, mediators, judges, mental health professionals and others on managing high-conflict personalities in 40 states and 14 countries. He has written over twenty books and manuals, including High Conflict People in Legal Disputes and Biff for Lawyers and Law Offices: Your Guide to Respectful Written Communication with Clients, Opposing Counsel and Others. He taught Psychology of Conflict Communication for 16 years at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law. He is the co-host of the podcast It’s All Your Fault. His blog on Psychology Today has over 6 million views. For more information, see www.HighConflictInstitute.com.

Agenda

I. Five high conflict personality types and their common conflict dynamics | 2:00pm – 2:20pm

II. Four approaches to avoid with them | 2:20pm – 2:40pm

III. Four key skills to use with them | 2:40pm – 3:00pm

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

IV. Tips for managing high-conflict clients | 3:10pm – 3:40pm

V. Tips for managing high-conflict opposing counsel | 3:40pm – 4:10pm

Credits

Alaska

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through Alaska’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity.
Alabama

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Arkansas

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Arizona

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

California

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Colorado

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 General

Connecticut

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

District of Columbia

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Delaware

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Florida

Approved for CLE Credits
2.5 General

Receive CLE credit in Florida via attorney submission.
Georgia

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Hawaii

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Iowa

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 General

Idaho

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Illinois

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 General

Indiana

Approved For On-Demand Credits
2 General

Kansas

Pending CLE Approval
2 Substantive

Kentucky

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Louisiana

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Massachusetts

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Maryland

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Maine

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Michigan

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Minnesota

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 General

Missouri

Pending CLE Approval
2.4 General

Mississippi

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Montana

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

North Carolina

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 General

North Dakota

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through North Dakota’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity. Section 1, Policy 1.14
Nebraska

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

myLawCLE reports attendance to Nebraska on each attorney’s behalf for all programs. Please do not self-report.
New Hampshire

Approved for CLE Credits
120 General minutes

As of July 1, 2014, the NHMCLE Board no longer provides pre- or post-approval of courses. Attendees must self-determine whether a program is eligible for credit, and self-report their attendance online at www.nhbar.org, based on qualification provisions of Rule 53.
New Jersey

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New Jersey’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity, except for the courses required under BCLE Reg. 201:2
New Mexico

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 General

Nevada

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

New York

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New York’s Approved Jurisdiction Group “B”.
Ohio

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 General

Oklahoma

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Oregon

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Pennsylvania

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 General

Rhode Island

Pending CLE Approval
2.5 General

South Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

South Dakota

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Tennessee

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 General

Texas

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Utah

Pending CLE Approval
2 Professionalism & Civility

Virginia

Not Eligible
2 General Hours

Vermont

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Washington

Approved via Attorney Submission
2 Law & Legal Hours

Receive CLE credit in Washington via attorney submission.
Wisconsin

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Law Practice Management

West Virginia

Pending CLE Approval
2.4 General

Wyoming

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

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