Lawyer Assistance Program - Helping Lawyers Around the Country from New York State Bar Association on Vimeo.

or [email protected] (confidential e-mail)

Stacey Whiteley, LAP Director

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Thomas E. Schimmerling, Esq., LAC Chair  

Daniella E. Keller, Esq., LAC Co-Chair

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Hon. Jonah Triebwasser, JWC Chair

Hon. Linda Poust Lopez, JWC Vice Chair

LAP Brochure

LAP Flyer

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The New York State Bar Association Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) provides education and confidential assistance to lawyers, judges, law school students, and immediate family members who are affected by the problem of substance abuse, stress, depression or other mental health issues.  Its goal is to assist in the prevention, early identification and intervention of problems that can affect professional conduct and quality of life.

CONFIDENTIALITY

All LAP services are confidential and protected under  Section 499 of the Judiciary Law as amended by Chapter 327 of the Laws of 1993.

LAP SERVICES are confidential, voluntary, free and include:  

The New York State Bar Association's Lawyer Assistance Program provides several important services to the legal community across upstate New York (north of Westchester County). The LAP provides:

• voluntary monitoring services for attorneys facing grievance procedures and for those that are court ordered.
• a helpline: 800.255.0569. It is staffed during normal business hours and monitored after hours. The helpline provides general assistance and referrals for therapists, treatment, support groups, and peer support. 
• CLE and educational speakers, materials, and resources that can be incorporated into existing programming or as presented as stand alone programming. 
• peer support from experienced volunteers.
• materials and assistance to local bars and groups wishing to start up local Lawyers Helping Lawyers groups.
• outreach to local and specialty bars, legal organization, firms, law schools, and legal organizations on topics such as substance use, mental health and attorney wellness.
• the home program for the Lawyer Assistance Committee, the Judicial Wellness Committee, and the local Capital District Lawyers Helping Lawyers group. 

Establishing a LAWYERS HELPING LAWYERS committee

Click HERE to learn more about establishing a Lawyers Helping Lawyers committee in your local area.

TASK FORCE ON ATTORNEY WELLNESS

 The Task Force on Attorney Wellness is charged with reviewing the state’s bar application questionnaire to ensure an applicant’s history of mental health treatment will not be a deterrence to admission. The Task Force will review specific questions on the New York bar application’s character and fitness questionnaire that address an applicant’s mental health issues to determine if they comport with the nationally endorsed recommendations found in the recently issued Conference of Chief Justices’ resolution. The Task Force will issue a report with recommendations based on their findings. 

Task Force Roster

Press Release: New York State Bar Association Creates Blue-Ribbon Wellness Task Force

NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON LAWYER WELL-BEING REPORT, August 2017

AWARDS 

LINDA M. MCMAHON RECEIVES FRANKLIN P. GAVIN MEMORIAL AWARD

Linda M. McMahon is the recipient of the 2019 Franklin P. Gavin Memorial Award, presented by NYSBA’s Lawyer Assistance Committee.
The annual award recognizes an individual who has contributed to assisting lawyers in recovery.   

CAROL LACKENBACH, ESQ. RECEIVES RAYMOND P. O'KEEFE MEMORIAL AWARD

CaroL Lackenbach, Esq. was awarded the 2019 Raymond P. O'Keefe Memorial Award (posthumously) on May 18, 2019 at the LAP Spring Retreat in Silver Bay, NY.  Daughters Beth and Sharon accepted the award on Carol's behalf.

MODEL POLICY ADDRESSING IMPAIRMENT ISSUES

On April 10, 2010 the New York State Bar Association's  House of Delegates and Executive Committee approved a Model Policy to assist bar associations, law firms and other legal departments in addressing impairment issues. 

LAC Model Policy 
NYSBA Resolution   

Lawyer Assistance Committee
The Lawyer Assistance Committee (LAC) is charged with the duty, in collaboration with the New York Bar Association Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP), of assisting attorneys, judges and law students dealing with alcoholism or substance abuse and other addictive disorders.

Judicial Wellness Committee
The Judicial Wellness Committee seeks to foster a sense of community and care among the New York State Judiciary and to provide confidential assistance to impaired judges.

Capital District Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee (CDLHL)

The mission of the Capital District Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee is to give confidential assistance to lawyers, judges, law students, and other members of the legal profession struggling with alcoholism, substance abuse and dependence, other addictions, depression, and mental health problems that threaten or impair professional and personal life.  The Committee has two goals: To give the bench and bar a better understanding of these conditions through appropriate education and dialogue, and to give colleagues in recovery hope and confidence through example.  Services offered to members of the legal profession and their families include: outreach, education, prevention, consultation, intervention, referral, peer support, and mentoring.  The CDLHL meets the first Wednesday of each month at NYSBA, One Elk Street in Albany.  For additional information, contact Linda McMahon [email protected].