June 2001

Recharging Your Professional and Personal Life

I discovered an annual legal conference that never fails to renew my enthusiasm for the practice of law and recharge my personal life: the annual statewide conference of the Lawyers' Assistance Program sponsored by the WSBA Lawyer Services Department. The fourth annual conference was held April 6-8, 2001 at Campbell's Resort in Lake Chelan, Washington.

The conference began on a Friday afternoon and concluded the following Sunday morning. Seminar topics included improving civility within the legal profession; interacting more effectively with clients and colleagues; encouraging accountability and responsibility in addiction recovery; ethical issues arising in mediation and arbitration; law office management techniques for reducing stress and anxiety; and maintaining your health, serenity and legal practice. Those who attended all presentations earned a total of 7.5 continuing legal education credits, including four in ethics.

What is so special about this conference, besides the great bargain for CLE credits? (The registration fee, exclusive of meals, is just $50.) It provides an opportunity for lawyers to temporarily escape their demanding practices and relax in a resort setting, while improving their skills as lawyers and people. Where else can we spend time with our peers away from the "busy-ness of our practices" to discuss important topics?

Let's face it — the practice of law is a demanding profession that never ceases to challenge our personal serenity. It can take a toll on us in many subtle and not-so-subtle ways, including the development of hostility toward other lawyers and clients, alienation, anxiety, depression and substance abuse. Avoiding these problems requires a proactive approach, and there are many skills that can be learned to enhance the quality of both our legal practices and our personal lives. The annual conference affords us the opportunity to build relationships with lawyers from both sides of the Cascades — relationships that are crucial for establishing the sense of collegiality that many claim our profession has lost.

As in years past, this year's conference included several events open to families — a Friday night desert reception, Saturday lunch and dinner, and Sunday brunch. The conference schedule left free time in the afternoon for some "quality" family time.

I encourage you to register and attend next year's conference. Details will appear in Bar News in late winter 2001 and early spring 2002 issues.

The Lawyers' Assistance Program (LAP) offers confidential assistance to WSBA members with mental, emotional, drug, alcohol, family, health and other problems. Services include assessment, referral, short- or long-term counseling, group or individual therapy, treatment follow-up and training. For information, call 206-727- 8268.

The Law Office Management Assistance Program offers a wide range of services to assist lawyers, especially those in solo or small firms, with the challenges of managing a law office. For information, call 206-727-8237.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Program consists of two components: a voluntary fee arbitration program, to settle fee disputes between clients and lawyers; and mediation, to help resolve all types of disputes between lawyers and other individuals (e.g., clients, other lawyers and other professionals). For information, call 206-733-5923.

The Professional Responsibility/Ethics Program provides information and assistance in the following areas: ethics assistance, where a WSBA lawyer assists callers in resolving ethical dilemmas; Informal Opinions issued by the RPC Committee in response to lawyers' written ethical inquiries; Formal Opinions and Published Informal Opinions approved by the Board of Governors; and Rules of Professional Conduct promulgated by the Washington Supreme Court. For information, call 206-727-8284.

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