NCLAP Sidebar

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.
—Rumi

Message from the Director

Welcome to the third annual state-wide edition of Sidebar, the Lawyer Assistance Program’s e-newsletter. We hope Sidebar provides a small dose of inspiration to you in your day-to-day law practice, and reminds you that you are not alone with whatever frustrations you encounter in your law practice and in your life. You are not alone; in fact, you are in quite good company. Read More


Bless These Tears

Party down, rock and roll, snort some coke, lose some soul. 
17, running wild, bullet proof, foolish child. 
Got the grades, got the girl, let's give UNC a whirl. Read More


Learning to Unlearn

When facing emotional difficulties, this lawyer’s life circumstances, education, and work as a lawyer all taught him that he could—and had to—figure out what it took to fix his problem. All of his effort to “learn” his way out of his problem was part of the problem. The solution lay in first unlearning. Read More


Practice Perspectives

This lawyer found a greater sense of inner peace and less anxiety by not taking credit for wins and not taking blame for losses, but instead focusing on doing the next right thing and letting go of outcomes. Read More


Mindful Moment

Conscious periodic deep breathing not only decreases stress, it also lowers blood pressure, promotes clearer thinking, and increases feelings of well-being. Read More


When Lawyers Go Zen

Growing numbers of attorneys (and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer) are embracing some form of practice to achieve mindfulness. Their reasons for doing so are varied, but chief among them are stress management and improved mental and physical health - benefits backed by research findings from scientists at Harvard. Read More


Lawyer Brings Unique Perspective

Recognizing the toxic mix for legal professionals of pressure and perfectionism, one lawyer has written and published a daily reader for lawyers seeking balance and recovery. Read More


Something to Consider

In his book First Things First Stephen Covey describes a story that one of his associates experienced at a seminar. In the middle of the lecture the presenter pulled out a wide-mouth jar and placed it on the table next to some fist-sized rocks.

After filling the jar to the top with rocks he asked, “Is the jar full?”

People could see that no more rocks would fit, so they replied, “Yes!”

“Not so fast,” he cautioned. He then got some gravel from under the table and added it to the jar, filling the spaces between the rocks. Again, he asked, “Is the jar full?”

This time the students replied “Probably not.”

The presenter then reached for a bucket of sand below the table, and dumped it on the jar, filling the spaces between the rocks and the gravel. Once again he asked “Is the jar full?”

“No!” the students shouted.

Finally, he grabbed a pitcher of water and filled the jar completely, asking what they could learn from that illustration.

One of the participants answered, “If you work at it, you can always fit more into your life.”

“No,” said the presenter. “The point is, if you don’t put the big rocks in first. . . would you ever have gotten any of them in?”

What are the big rocks in your life?

Upcoming Events - LAP Related

February 14, 2019 (Valentine’s Day – offered two different times)
Love Your Work, Love Your Life: 5 Tools for a More Resilient New Year
Meck Bar CLE with Laura Mahr of Conscious Legal Minds
Charlotte, NC
9 - 10:30 AM
Noon - 1:30 PM

April 5 - 7, 2019
Step Study Retreat
Caraway Conference Center
Sofia, NC

Upcoming Events - Community Based
(not LAP sponsored; a clearing house of information for recovery related events around the state)

Renewal Center of the South
Current Retreat Schedule

Submissions to the Sidebar are Welcome

See guidelines for submissions

Annual Report

View the 2017-2018 Annual Report
NCLAP Sidebar