The Lawyer Assistance Program provides assistance to lawyers suffering from alcoholism, other drug addictions, depression, and other mental disorders. These illnesses always require good, competent medical treatment. But they are, by their very nature, long-term, chronic diseases that require continuing support for the affected lawyer to maintain recovery.
The philosophy of the Lawyer Assistance Program is grounded in the idea that with being a member of a collegial profession comes the responsibility to help other members of the profession. This philosophy meshes exactly with the medical principle that, in addition to appropriate acute medical care, the most effective, long-term, continuing support for diseases like alcoholism comes through support of others who have suffered from, or are trained in, understanding this chronic condition.
In short, if you have walked in the shoes of someone who suffers from alcoholism or depression, you have an experience that can be invaluable when shared with someone else who is suffering. Though the Lawyer Assistance Program is directed by trained professionals, it is through the Lawyer Assistance Program volunteers that the program's most effective assistance is rendered. The Lawyer Assistance Program has two groups of volunteers. The PALS volunteers focus on helping lawyers suffering from alcoholism and other addictions and most of its volunteers have personal experience or training in this area. The FRIENDS volunteers focus on helping lawyers suffering from depression and other mental disorders and most of its volunteers have personal experience or training in this area. Of course, some lawyers volunteer to work with both the the PALS Committee and FRIENDS Committee.
Why Volunteer?
Recovery from depression or alcoholism brings a sense of wholeness. To many lawyers, this means searching for ways to make their recovery experience, as much as possible, a part of their entire life, including their professional life. One way many lawyers have done this is by participating as a volunteer on the PALS or FRIENDS Committees.
How Does a Lawyer Become a Volunteer?
Volunteers are asked to make application for membership as a the PALS or FRIENDS volunteer and to provide limited information on their own recovery experience or training. For the PALS volunteers who are themselves in recovery, the PALS guidelines provide that the volunteer will have been abstinent from mind-altering chemicals for at least two years. For the FRIENDS volunteers who are in recovery from depression or other mental disorder, a period of stable treatment of the disorder is required. Applications are reviewed by the the LAP Director and the LAP Assistant Director. Recommendations are made by the LAP Director to the president of the North Carolina State Bar for appointment to the the PALS or the FRIENDS Committees.
Do Volunteers Receive Training?
As a part of the volunteer application, the PALS or the FRIENDS volunteers agree to participate in yearly volunteer training that is conducted by the Lawyer Assistance Program. This includes training in confidentiality, in the nature of the diseases that are affecting the lawyers they will assist, as well as training in the rules and procedures affecting the manner in which peer assistance is given. Very importantly, appointment as a volunteer brings with it the confidentiality privilege embodied in Rule 1.6 of the Revised Rules of Professional Conduct. Under this provision, all communications concerning assistance given or being offered to another lawyer is privileged with the attorney/client privilege. In addition, the Lawyer Assistance Program volunteer is given a grant of limited immunity for activity engaged in on behalf of the Lawyer Assistance Program.
What May Volunteers Be Asked to Do?
Volunteers are asked to share their experience, strength, and hope with other lawyers who may be suffering from a similar condition, but who may not yet be in recovery. In addition, volunteers are asked to serve as monitors/mentors to those new in recovery and to be available to be frequently contacted by the person receiving support. The Lawyer Assistance Program is entirely separate from the State Bar's disciplinary process. The Bar's rules provide that when a lawyer's conduct has gotten the lawyer into trouble with the Bar, and it appears the conduct was caused by an underlying problem such as alcoholism or depression, such lawyer may be referred to the Lawyer Assistance Program for assistance. The Lawyer Assistance Program then seeks to provide the same assistance it would if the lawyer had come to it directly and monitoring is provided by the Lawyer Assistance Program. In this fashion, a lawyer may avoid or mitigate a sanction by the Bar as long as the underlying issue is addressed. Lawyer Assistance Program volunteers are assigned as monitors in such cases.
How Do Lawyers Needing Help Know Whom to Call?
Under the Lawyer Assistance Program's rules of operation, all calls for assistance to volunteers are routed through either the LAP Director, LAP Assistant Director, or Piedmont LAP Coordinator. This is essential to assure professional evaluation and assessment. However, many lawyers are most apt to reach out first to another lawyer they may know. For that reason, lists of the PALS and FRIENDS volunteers with phone numbers are made available in State Bar publications and on the Lawyer Assistance Program website to encourage any member of the Bar who is experiencing difficulty to reach out to a volunteer.
Who Runs the Lawyer Assistance Program?
The Lawyer Assistance Program was created by the North Carolina State Bar Council. The Lawyer Assistance Program is governed by an independent board of nine members: three of whom are Bar Councilors, three of whom are experts in the fields of addictions or mental health, and three of whom are volunteers. Board members serve three-year terms and are appointed by the North Carolina State Bar Council. The Lawyer Assistance Program has a full time LAP Director, LAP Assistant Director, and Piedmont LAP Coordinator, all of whom are trained in the area of assessing and evaluating addictions and mental health problems, and who direct the day-to-day operations of the Lawyer Assistance Program.
What Do I Need to Do if I Wish to Volunteer?
Call Betty Whitley at 919-828-4620 ext. 269 or Buffy Holt at 704-892-5699 and ask for a PALS or FRIENDS application.
What do I need to do if I wish to talk with someone about what being a volunteer in PALS or FRIENDS means?
Call Don Carroll, Ed Ward, or Towanda Garner.
LAP Director
W. Donald (Don) Carroll Jr.
907 Barra Row, Suite 205
Davidson, NC 28036
1-800-720-7257 or
704-892-5699
nclap@bellsouth.net
LAP Assistant Director
Edmund (Ed) F. Ward III
The North Carolina State Bar
PO Box 25908 (27611-5908)
208 Fayetteville Street Mall
Raleigh, NC (27601)
1-877-627-3743 or
919-828-6425
eward@ncbar.com
Piedmont LAP Coordinator
Towanda C. Garner
The North Carolina State Bar
PO Box 25908 (27611-5908)
208 Fatetteville Street Mall
Raleigh, NC 27601
1-877-570-0991
1-919-828-4620 ext. 290
tgarner@ncbar.com