November - December 2007
Volume 32 Number 2Highlights
Who needs help? Bars and lawyer assistance programs fight stigmas and lend a hand
Many lawyer assistance programs have expanded their scope to address stress and lack of life balance before they lead to depression, substance abuse, or other problems. But some bars have found that lawyers are often reluctant to make use of the work-life resources available to them. What if you held a work-life seminar and no one showed up? What are some ways to offer assistance in a way that's more appealing? And if attendance is sparse, but one attendee leaves with some good ideas and later calls the LAP for help, should that count as success?
Online lawyer search: A look at two new sitesIf many consumers now look for lawyers via the Yellow Pages, can a consumer-focused lawyer search Web site be a boon to the public, as well as a profitable business model? And what does this mean for lawyer referral services? Two such sites debuted recently, one from within the bar association world and one from outside it. Here's a look at those sites and the thinking behind them, and at some of the discussion they've prompted.
Bar groups announce new officers for 2007-08Here are the new officer rosters for five bar-related organizations, all in one handy place.
Is there a hole in your bucket? Member retention as a year-round processIf you bring in lots of new members each year but lose lots of current ones, then your bucket is emptying just as fast as you can fill it. Here, a veteran director of membership explains why retention is so critical-and how diligent tracking of member information and feedback can help you all year long.
Page two: The delicate imbalance of balanceAll lawyers experience stress, says Michelle A. Behnke, chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services, and all lawyers have difficulty asking for help or admitting that the stress is too much. But, she says, a lawyer whose life is in balance is one who is better able to serve the profession as well as his or her family and community. Behnke invites us to sit back, relax, and consider whether our own lives could use a fresh perspective.
