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18 Pass It On: Newsl. Gov't & Pub. Sector Law. Div. 1 (2008-2009)

handle is hein.journals/passit18 and id is 1 raw text is: Stressed Out?.
Depressed?
Drink too Much?
Lawyer Assistance
Programs Can Help
By the Honorable Robert L. Childers, Chair,
ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs
John used to join his coleagues for happy hour to blow off
some steam. But now he was drinking all the time to escape
the realities and responsibilities of his job and relationships.
John tried to attribute his ragged appearance to a video game
obsession that was keeping him up nights, but the alcohol on                            4
his breath quashed that excuse. He'd started arriving late to
work and then dozing off at his desk. His assistant was strug-
gling to rouse him in time for appointments.
A colleague is pale and thin. She seems agitated, unfocused, and has trouble remembering details.
She spends many hours after work exercising at the gym and making excuses for why she cannot
attend lunch appointments. She has never had so much as a parking ticket, but then is arrested for
shoplifting food.
Getting involved sexually with a man at work was like picking up a drink for the busy, stressed out
lawyer. When she was sexualy acting out, she was oblivious to how her behavior was affecting other
people and herself She threw away her self-esteem and her position at the office was in jeopardy.
I t may be hard to believe that highly educated professionals would be drawn into such danger-
ous, self-destructive behavior. Unfortunately, substance abuse, mental illness and addictions
strike across economic, educational and societal borders. That's why Lawyer Assistance Programs
(LAPs) were created and why they are so important.
LAPs exist in all 50 states and are designed to help lawyers with all types of quality of life
issues including drug abuse, alcoholism, stress management, and mental health issues such as
depression. Most LAPs use intervention, peer counseling, and referrals to 12-step programs to
assist in the recovery process. Nowadays, because of increased education and understanding, law-
yers, judges and law students are being helped earlier and often before they can harm a client or
themselves.
Most government attorneys have access to employee assistance programs (EAPs) through their
office. In some states, LAPs work hand in hand with EAPs, where EAPs will facilitate the services
needed including assessments, counseling sessions and referral to resources if more extensive
assistance or treatment is necessary. EAPs are prohibited from sharing confidential information
about a case without a signed release, but situations may exist where they can refer lawyers to
their LAP for support if the lawyer is facing a disciplinary complaint.
LAPs help lawyers who won't ask for help themselves. LAP calls are usually confidential and
in most instances do not require the LAP to report the lawyer to their state disciplinary board.
Once a LAP receives a call, it often sends the lawyer a letter, stating that it has received informa-
tion that the lawyer is having personal problems that may affect her practice. This letter will
give information about the LAP and encourage her to make contact or visit her own health care
SNOTE NEW DATE!
Police Liability CLE Teleconference
November 12, 2008 See p. 7 for more details.

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