Adverse Witness
LAWYERS AND LAWYER’S ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS- CONT. Michael Sneeringer & John Lesko, JD, CAP AW
Why would I inquire? Lawyers are under an enormous amount of stress to perform their best. Oftentimes, that stress begins in law school as it is the toughest academic exercise that many students have ever experienced. Stress, anxiety, depression, alcohol and substance use, and other mental health disorders can all be present around the ages where many begin their law school or legal practice journeys. So instead of internalizing those issues or paying for outside help (as a means of first resort), a law student, lawyer, paralegal or judge can initiate the confidential services of a lawyer’s assistance program, such as FLA. There may be a helping and listening ear, or directions to the nearest lawyer’s assistance meeting, or, in emergent cases, an intervention and referral to a hospital or other (necessary third party for) treatment provider. For many attorneys, the perceived stigma of disclosing stress, anxiety, depression, and alcohol and substance use often keeps them from seeking help. Still others fear ostracism because they practice law or attend a law school in a small community, such as Naples. Contacting FLA is a solution to both of these concerns. First, lawyers’ assistance representatives are usually well-trained in empathic intervention, and can quickly help inquiring individuals overcome any feelings of stigma and shame. Second, for the person seeking confidential help, she or he can rest assured that any communication with a lawyers’ assistance program is confidential (in Florida). * * * If you would like additional information regarding lawyer impairment, wellness, or recommended resources, please do not hesitate to call FLA at (800) 282-8981, or visit https://www.fla-lap.org/
Authors: Michael Sneeringer is a partner in the Naples, Florida, office of Porter Wright. He is a Director of Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc.
John Lesko, JD, CAP, is the Outreach Coordinator of Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc.
i P. R. Krill, R. Johnson, & L. Albert, The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys, 10 J. ADDICTION MED. 46 (2016). ii https://www.americanbar.org/groups/lawyer_assistance/resources/lap_ programs_by_state/. iii For example, see Ohio’s Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program, Inc., https://www. ohiolap.org/about. iv See Annual Reports, https://www.lclpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2020- LCLPA-Annual-Report.pdf. v For example, see Wisconsin’s Wisconsin Lawyers Assistance Program (WisLAP), https://www.wisbar.org/forPublic/HelpforLegalProfessionals/Pages/help-for- legal-professionals.aspx vi Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc., https://www.fla-lap.org/what-we-do. vii See e.g., Addiction Treatment for Professionals, Hazelden Betty Ford, https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/treatment/models/specialized-programs/ professionals-program. viii See e.g., Florida Lawyers Assistance, “Aging Lawyers”, https://www.fla-lap.org/
aging-lawyers. iv. Rule 3-7.1(j).
x Wisconsin’s Wisconsin Lawyers Assistance Program (WisLAP), https:// www.wisbar.org/forPublic/HelpforLegalProfessionals/Pages/help-for-legal- professionals.aspx).
JULY / August 2022 Vol. 210
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