Families

First and foremost, call the LAP. These illnesses and conditions affect the entire family and create dynamics within the family system that unwittingly perpetuate the illness. In order to best help your loved one, the LAP can guide you as to how to begin to stop the destructive cycle of disease within the family. The person afflicted with the illness often cannot begin a recovery process until the family has begun the recovery process and leads the way. There is not a quick fix or magic silver bullet. Recovery is a process, not an event.

The LAP can refer you to interventionists and treatment resources appropriate for your family member. It is likely, however, that the reason you are visiting our website is that your repeated efforts to encourage your family member to get help have failed. We have lawyer volunteers who have been through what you are experiencing and who can help guide you towards solutions that worked for them. The LAP can provide experienced guidance about how to interrupt the family cycle of the disease and can refer you to providers and community resources in your area that can help you in the midst of this crisis. It is imperative that you continue in your own recovery efforts to increase the likelihood your family member might eventually find recovery. Many family members become exhausted trying to pick up all the balls the family member is dropping, and it is natural to get angry and feel hopeless. Although no one can make someone else get well, it is profoundly possible that if we change the way we respond to the illness that it will cause the affected person to re-evaluate their choices as well. It generally requires that we get support to get clarity about what is actually helpful and what is unintentionally enabling an illness.

It is important to know that the LAP provides comprehensive assistance for any issue you are facing as a result of your loved one’s impairment or distress. These family issues can have far reaching impacts. Many lawyers report that they have become so mentally preoccupied with trying to “solve” their loved one’s problem that they could not focus on work, causing their work to suffer. Sometimes lawyers wind up struggling with their own depression in response to these circumstances. In addition, because it is uncomfortable to share these details with friends and coworkers, lawyers in this situation can feel increasingly isolated. All of this can take a real toll and we do not want this situation to impair your ability to practice law. The LAP can provide you with the support you need to cope with the issue in a healthier way.

First and foremost, call the LAP. These illnesses and conditions affect the entire family and create dynamics within the family system that unwittingly perpetuate the illness. In order to best help your loved one, the LAP can guide you as to how to begin to stop the destructive cycle of disease within the family. The person afflicted with the illness often cannot begin a recovery process until the family has begun the recovery process and leads the way. There is not a quick fix or magic silver bullet. Recovery is a process, not an event.

Lawyers and judges often need treatment and support tailored to the individual. The LAP can refer you to interventionists and treatment resources appropriate for the lawyer or judge. It is likely, however, that the reason you are visiting our website is that your repeated efforts to encourage them to get help have failed. The LAP can provide experienced guidance about how to interrupt the family cycle of the disease and can refer you to providers and community resources in your area that can help you while we focus our attention on helping the lawyer or judge. The LAP can reach out to the lawyer or judge in distress via our volunteer network and offer an opportunity to initiate recovery and receive support. If those attempts are not initially successful, it is imperative that you and the family continue in your own recovery efforts to increase the likelihood the lawyer or judge might eventually find recovery. Many family members become exhausted trying to pick up all the balls being dropped, and it is natural to get angry and feel hopeless. Although no one can make someone else choose recovery, it is profoundly possible that if we change the way we respond to the illness that it will cause the lawyer or judge to re-evaluate their choices as well. It generally requires that we get support to get clarity about what is actually helpful and what is unintentionally enabling an illness.

The LAP is not a disciplinary organization and is not connected to the grievance process of the State Bar. Our services are 100% completely confidential and any issues that you reveal about the lawyer or judge in distress are never reported to the discipline arm of the State Bar for any reason.