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December 1999Lawyers in Trouble — You Can Helpby Richard C. Eymann This message is directed to every lawyer, judge or anyone else who notices a lawyer who appears to be distressed. All Washington lawyers need to be aware that the Washington State Bar Association is dedicated to the wellness of its members and has established a highly respected service program toward this end. The Lawyers’ Assistance Program (LAP) offers confidential assistance for emotional, drug, alcohol, family, health and other personal problems (RLD 12.17). Services include assessment, referral, short- or long-term counseling, and group and individual therapy, as well as treatment follow-up and education. Who are the clients of the Lawyers’ Assistance Program? People much like you and me. These lawyers, for the most part, act professionally, exhibit conscientious advocacy for their clients, act with civility toward their colleagues, and make generous contributions of time and expertise to their communities. However, in some cases, they may need assistance with issues affecting their personal or professional lives. Whether people come to LAP because they realize they are unable to cope with an addiction, are overwhelmed with depression, are feeling burnt out and dissatisfied with life, have a problem managing their anger or being around someone else’s, their "problem" is not an inherent defect or disregard for the profession. Barbara Harper, Director of the Lawyer Services Department, recently said, "Many of the lawyers seen by LAP report that while they are deeply committed to the practice of law and seeing justice done, they see their stress and depression as byproducts of the lack of collegiality and civility, the dearth of compassion and purpose, and the loss of conviction and values in the profession. They see these problems as good reasons to question why they should remain in the practice of law. The LAP clinical staff has treated an array of problems in lawyers, including stress, depression, aging and retirement issues, and alcohol and drug addiction. We have also found (and studies have shown) that often these problems are interrelated." One of the challenges the LAP clinical staff see lawyers facing is striving to live a personally and professionally congruent life. Lack of balance between personal and professional life can lead to new problems, or exacerbate existing problems for an individual lawyer. Sometimes lawyers use alcohol or other drugs to "self-medicate" and alleviate the stresses of the profession. Other lawyers have a more serious problem with alcohol or other drugs which goes beyond an outlet for stress. In either case, our LAP therapists are trained to identify and assess the problem, and then determine the best course of treatment. The services of the Lawyers’ Assistance Program are available to any Washington lawyer who needs help. Referrals from concerned third parties, including colleagues, judges or family members, are welcome and will remain confidential. And, be assured, LAP information is not shared with Disciplinary Counsel. Unfortunately in some instances, the lawyer in trouble has already come face-to-face with an investigation by the Washington State Bar Association’s discipline staff before LAP has had a chance to intervene and deter the conduct leading to the grievance and/or investigation. This is an unfortunate circumstance that might be avoided with early assistance. If you or someone you know could benefit from the services provided by the WSBA Lawyers’ Assistance Program, please call 206-727-8268. If you would like to volunteer as a LAP lawyer to assist those in need, please call this same telephone number. A little effort in this direction could make a positive difference for yourself or a fellow lawyer, so please take the time to inform yourself so that you can make a difference.
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