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ABA CoLAP

Fall 1996 Issue

Table of Contents

Report from Chair Michael Crowley

The National Workshop for Lawyer Assistance Programs was a smashing success thanks to the hard work of Bonnie Waters as program chair, her committee and our dedicated staff. Two new programs were introduced this year: the Evolution of an LAP and LAP Directors Training. The two-hour Directors Training, facilitated by Dr. David Prewett, focused on skills for empathic interviewing and referral. The Evolution of an LAP program, produced by Adrian Hill, was divided into five sessions. Each one was dedicated to a specific level of program development, beginning with referral to treatment, setting up a LAP, training peer volunteers, and marketing/funding/politics, and ending with treatment resources and options. There were also simultaneous substantive workshops on gambling, addiction to prescription and street drugs, domestic violence and addictions, sexual compulsivity, depression and adult attention deficit disorder. The format at this workshop provided more small group breakouts and fewer, but longer plenary sessions. The speakers included Dr. Raymond Pomm and Dr. Roger Goetz, both certified addictionists from the Florida area. If you did not have an opportunity to hear them at the National Workshop, they will also be speaking at the 23rd National Conference on Professional Responsibility, May 29-31, 1997, in Naples, Florida. (Copies of the workshop and state materials are available from Gerri Sandner at 312/988-5359 for $70.00.)
The 10th National Workshop for Lawyer Assistance Programs will follow the same basic format as the 9th, allowing free time for touring, shopping, networking and relaxing. It will be held at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. The dates are September 9-12, 1997. (ILAA is scheduled for September 12-14.) The program will be designed with the first two days devoted to information of interest to LAP directors, and the balance focused on caselaw review and general addiction/health problems of interest to LAP volunteers, bar association alcohol and drug committee chairs, bar leaders, the judiciary, and lawyers in recovery. The entire workshop is open to everyone, but there will be a price break for those who only attend the last day and a half. Topics that are being considered for 1997 include gambling, long term therapy, lawyer suicide, domestic violence and addictions, and women's issues and sobriety. While the 9th National Workshop is still fresh in your mind, please contact Bonnie Waters (FAX: (617) 227-7075/ E-mail: LCL880MA@aol.com) or Donna Spilis (FAX: (312) 988-5280/E-Mail: spilisd@staff.abanet.org) with topics that you would like offered at the 10th National Workshop that you did not include on your conference evaluation form.
APA/ABA Meeting - Psychologists and lawyers met on December 7th in Washington, DC to explore ways in which they could collaborate more effectively on policy development, training, professional practice, and personal relations. As the Chair of CoLAP, I was invited to speak on the success of the ABA in supporting the state lawyer assistance programs. Donna Spilis attended to answer questions about the Commission's clearinghouse and educational services. This is part of our expanded outreach effort to serve ABA staff, sections and committees, state and local bar associations and their lawyer assistance programs, and other professional organizations.
The 58th ABA Midyear Meeting will be held in San Antonio, Texas, January 29 - February 4, 1997. This marks the first time that the Midyear Meeting will be held in historic San Antonio, and we hope you will join us in the ninth largest city in the United States. Plan to visit the Alamo, where in 1836 a small band of Texians held out for 13 days before falling to Mexico's forces. Follow Mission Trail and find yourself transported from the 20th Century into the 18th. Explore El Mercado, San Antonio's Mexican Market, where even the average souvenir isn't average. And, don't forget the cuisine, which is a collision of cultures - luscious Tex-Mex, Chic Southwestern Nouvelle and Texas BBQ with an attitude. You and your family will have a wonderful time in this grand historic city, where the people are as warm and welcoming as the climate. The Marriott Rivercenter, located on the famous Riverwalk and connected to the Rivercenter Shopping Complex will serve as the ABA headquarters hotel and location of eleven Friends of Bill W. meetings throughout the Midyear. I am suggesting that you stay at the Hilton Palacio del Rio, which is where CoLAP's business meeting will be held as well as the other meetings of the Center for Professional Responsibility, National Organization of Bar Counsel, and the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers. Following the business meeting, which is scheduled from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 1, 1997, the Texas Lawyers' Assistance Program and Don Jones will demonstrate a Peer Intervention. This is a process, which is more than a 12-step call but less intense than a structured intervention, that has been very effective in Texas. There is no registration fee for the Midyear Meeting. The deadline for hotel reservations is Monday, December 30. In order to appear in the Advance Registration List, ITS must receive your registration request by Wednesday, January 8, 1997.
A Model Monitoring Program is being developed by CoLAP with Briggs Cheney and Don Jones taking the lead. This Model will provide basic guidelines for use by disciplinary and licensing agencies when they place a lawyer on some character of monitored probation. These very practical guidelines are drawn from experience in the states with existing programs and are designed to facilitate effective monitoring of sobriety in the real world. The Model will identify those elements common to all successful Monitoring programs and will stress that sobriety monitors are not to be involved in the recovery program of lawyers being monitored. If you are interested in commenting on the draft, please contact Donna Spilis (312/988-5359) for a copy. We plan to submit the final Model Monitoring Program for House of Delegates approval in June.
Membership in the Center for Professional Responsibility will provide you with a number of services and other benefits from the highly skilled staff lawyers and other professionals, who are eager to assist you with ethical dilemmas, discuss current developments in the area of professional responsibility, and provide you with excellent continuing education programs. The $100 annual Center membership fee brings you a broad range of discounts, publications, information and events. I encourage you all to join as did the members of CoLAP. Call Gerri Sandner at 312/988-5312 for a CPR Membership Application.

Directory Changes

If you have an address, telephone or fax change, please notify Gerri Sandner at 312/988-5312 or gsandner@staff.abanet.org. For those of you who received the 1995-96 Directory of Lawyer Assistance Programs, the following changes should be noted:

Washington Lawyer's Assistance Program has a new address, effective December 1, 1996. You can now write to Barbara Harper at: 2101 Fourth Avenue, 4th Floor, Seattle, WA 98121-2330. Her telephone number and fax have not changed.
Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program, Inc. has relocated to 27704 Ann Drive, Columbia Station, OH 44028. Director Bill Haase also has a new telephone number that is 216/236-3700. His fax number is now 216/236-9800. His "800" number has remained the same.
ILAA World Directory - If you want your name listed in the next ILAA World Directory, contact Ben Graham at P.O. Box 552212, Las Vegas, NV 89155-2212 (702/455-4827).

Around the LAPS

Note from Donna Spilis: Many thanks to the LAPs that send information for inclusion in this section of Highlights, and also to the ABA Division for Bar Services, whose staff regularly send clips related to the work of LAPs from state and local bar association journals and newsletters.

California: The Other Bar, an organization of California lawyers and judges dedicated to assisting those in the legal profession suffering from alcoholism and other forms of chemical dependency, announced the opening of its Web Site on the Internet. The Other Bar home page is found at:http://www.otherbar.org/ob, or you can click on "The Other Bar" on CoLAP's home page at http://www.abanet.org/cia/assistance.html. The Other Bar Web Site provides information for those seeking help for themselves, colleagues, friends or family members. The easy-to-use Web Site provides a list of lawyers' recovery meeting locations by city, time and day of the week (in the interest of privacy and anonymity, visitors are advised to make direct contact with one of The Other Bars' consultants for exact meeting locations), the names and phone numbers of consultants in Northern and Southern California communities (including The Other Bars toll free hotline at 800-222-0767), a list of upcoming events, links to other recovery-related sites, help for families, a twenty questions, self-scored test for alcoholism that can be taken while visiting the site, a suggested reading list and a monthly recovery story written by one of the members of The Other Bar. Martha Roof, President of The Other Bar (and CoLAP member) reported that the State Bar of California has agreed to grant The Other Bar a small increase in its funding for 1997. This will enable them to continue to employ five outreach professional workers throughout California. She also reported on the continuing viability of their Shot of Sobriety fund, which arranges loans to lawyers in trouble who could not otherwise afford to go to substance abuse 28-day programs. The fund was founded by Board Member Edwin T. Caldwell in an effort to provide equal recovery opportunities for all.

Florida: FLA has published a second issue (and maybe even a third by now) of its newsletter, Courage to Change. Each issue includes messages from the editor of the newsletter, Executive Director and Program Director of FLA, meetings lists, a classified section for lawyers who want to advertise that they do disciplinary and admission work, and articles from FLA members. Attendees at the National Workshop in Bal Harbour received a copy of Courage to Change. If you want to receive a sample copy, contact Michael Cohen at 954/566-9040 (or e-mail:fla.lap@ix.netcom.com). You should also request a copy of FLA's new promotional brochure and visit their home page at http://www.abanet.org/cpr/fla.html. Having become aware of the problem of stress-related impairment, Florida Lawyers Assistance has extended its services to those with depression and other mental health problems. This expansion was prompted by the suicide of three of the 20 lawyers who called FLA for help with mental health-related problems over a five-month period. Depression is one of the most treatable forms of mental illness and FLA set up a referral system to provide assistance to members of the profession in need of mental health counseling.

Illinois: Author, psychologist and former practicing lawyer Benjamin Sells discussed psychological factors affecting lawyers at the October meeting of the Chicago Bar Association Solo/Small Firm Practitioners Committee. Sells shared why he feels many lawyers today are troubled and discussed what he described as a close relationship between psychology and law. Within the legal community, depression is the number one psychological problem, according to Sells, and a high percentage of lawyers are depressed. He said research shows depression often sets in after the second year of law school and stays. Sells said lawyers have the "gift of melancholy" in that they carry the depression of society in their work. He explained that depression means "loss of interest," while interest means "to be among." He said lawyers are trained to be conformist and that they should be more revolutionary.

Massachusetts: Bonnie Waters, Executive Director of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (and CoLAP member), recently published an article in the Boston Bar Journal on "The Need for Peer Assistance for Today's Lawyer." In her article she gives examples of lawyer career dissatisfaction, addiction and depression. The brief history of LCL in the article reported that, like many other state programs, LCL was initially a volunteer helpline with a network of recovering lawyers reaching out to their colleagues. Ms. Waters stated, "In recent years, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, in the tradition of its founders, has expanded to meet the changing demands of the profession. Funding ordered by the Supreme Judicial Court in 1994 carried with it not only a measure of financial stability, but also a mandate to address some of the other problems that were becoming epidemic in the profession under the general guise of burnout." A copy of the complete article is available from Gerri Sandner at 312/988-5312 or e-mail gsandner@staff.abanet.org. Massachusetts LCL also has a home page on the Internet that you can get to at http://www.abanet.org/cia/massachusetts.html or by clicking on Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, Inc. on CoLAP's home page at http://www.abanet.org/cia/assistance.html.

Michigan: Don Pipes, Director of the Michigan Lawyers' and Judges' Assistance Program, provided the following summary of an article that appeared in the Michigan Bar Journal, October 1996, Vol. 75, No. 10. The article was entitled "A Time for Change: Helping Lawyers Who Have Mental or Physical Illnesses That Precipitate Grievances." While praising the recently adopted substance abuse diversion program of the Michigan Supreme Court, author Charles D. Justian suggests that problems other than substance abuse that are just as devastating and debilitating also need attention in a similar fashion. Citing factual case histories, the author encourages us to ". . . find alternatives that would encourage lawyers to. . .address their [other] medical issues. . .[and when they do] we should have rules in place that are sensitive to their condition [that] serve to assist them in their recovery process." For a copy of the complete article, write to Donald R. Pipes, States Bar of Michigan, 306 Townsend Street, Lansing, MI 48933-2083, or you can download it from the Internet at http://www.michbar.org. Michigan has published its second issue of "Turning Point" the newsletter of the Michigan Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program. In this issue, it was announced that the Dearborn group is the oldest Lawyers and Judges AA meeting in the state and just celebrated their 14th continuous year of meetings. Each issue will contain addiction related educational information, articles, important notices and a list of meetings.

Minnesota: The July 1996 issue of Bench & Bar published some interesting statistics from an "April Fax Results" on stress and depression. 40 readers responded to the poll. 72% did not believe that people attracted to careers in law are uniquely vulnerable to stress and depression. 80% agreed that legal work is uniquely stressful in ways that contribute to the high incidence of depression among lawyers. 75% agreed that law firms' high expectations of their lawyers' performance are damaging to the lawyers' health. 65% agreed that the bar should devote more resources to investigating the high incidence of depression and substance abuse among lawyers. 20% agreed that they are uncomfortable with the conflict between their role as advocate for their clients and as officer of the court. 55% agreed that lawyers who socialize exclusively with other lawyers are more vulnerable to stress than those with a wider circle of friends. 70% agreed that the individualistic culture of the law firm leaves many lawyers without the support they need to cope effectively with stress. 68% agreed that the bar should assist lawyers suffering personal problems in gaining access to mental health services. 88% believed that public antipathy toward lawyers undercuts their pride in being lawyers. 40% believed that they could use some help in managing stress and depression.

Nebraska: The Nebraska Lawyers Assistance Program (NLAP) was approved by the NSBA House of Delegates last fall at their Annual Meeting. NLAP was formed to provide immediate and continuing support to lawyers, judges and law students who suffer from alcoholism and drug addiction. Like other state bar assistance programs, NLAP plans to commit resources to assisting chemically dependent lawyers, judges and law students in their recovery and providing education to the bench, bar and law students concerning recognition of the problem and available treatment options. NLAP's new director, Rick Allan, will have the assistance of recovering alcoholic lawyers and judges across the state, when called upon to support those suffering from this disease of addiction. Confidentiality is guaranteed by Supreme Court Rule (Code of Professional Responsibility DR 4-101(E).

North Carolina: PALS held their 1996 Annual Meeting on November 8-9 at the Blockade Runner Resort in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. The Peer Counselor Training Subcommittee worked hard all year to put together a workshop that would be both educational and fun for the entire family. New this year was the Family Track Program. The keynote speaker was Leland A. Reinhard from Fort Worth, who is a past chair of the Texas Lawyer's Assistance Committee. Leland has been in recovery for 11 years and has been speaking to others about the disease of addiction ever since.

Wisconsin If alcohol or drugs mean trouble for you, a colleague or loved one, call WisLAP's Substance Abuse Helpline at (800) 254-9144. Answering your call will be Helpline Coordinator, Lea Landmann, or another trained counselor. They can put you in touch with a support network of recovering alcoholics and addicts, help arrange treatment, or organize an "intervention" to help someone face up to alcohol or drug dependency. The Committee on Assistance for Lawyers (COAL) Helpline is now known as the WisLAP Stress Helpline, but it still can be reached at (800) 543-2625. From 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily, an operator can connect you to Stress Helpline Coordinator Dennis Kozich (a lawyer who also has a doctorate in counseling) or to a trained lawyer volunteer.

ABA Offers Resources for Ethics Solutions

ETHICSearch is an easy, fast and economical way to find the right resources to answer thousands of ethical questions. Operated through the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility, ETHICSearch fields approximately 3,000 phone and letter inquires per year, directing callers to the applicable ABA ethics rules, ethics opinions issued by the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, state and local bar association ethics opinions, and other relevant ethics research materials such as caselaw, law review articles and treatises. There is no charge for the initial consultation. Additional research is available at a very reasonable hourly rate with special discounts for CPR members and ABA members. ETHICSearch operates a same day fax and mailing service at reasonable rates. For further information, call ETHICSearch at 312/988-5323, fax to 312/988-5491 or send an e-mail to ctrprofresp@abanet.org.

New Book Offers Insight for the Functioning Alcoholic

"The Thinking Person's Guide to Sobriety" (Bright Books, Austin Texas) is aimed at more than 100 million highly functioning alcohol-abusers worldwide who face a glaring gap in the literature. Unless you've lost your job, been arrested, or destroyed your family, there is no mirror into which you can look for answers. Author Bert Pluymen has created a high-voltage manuscript that fills the gap. If you're successful, yet find yourself periodically abusing alcohol, you haven't had a resource for gaining control of your life. Until now. This new book does just that, using startling personal stories of accomplished professionals and up-to-the-minute scientific news that explode the myths about alcohol and those addicted to it. "The frightening reality is that you can be a first-rate professional, a loving spouse, a person whose friends don't suspect you have a drinking problem, and still be addicted to alcohol. Like many addicted drinkers, I drank socially for years, not knowing that intermittent heavy consumption is part of the normal addictive process," Pluymen says. This entertaining book includes thought-provoking material for any man or woman who has ever wondered, "Could I, of all people, have a drinking problem?" Mr. Pluymen donated several copies of his book for the registrants at the National Workshop for Lawyer Assistance Programs in Bal Harbour, Florida. All profits from this book are donated to charities benefiting children affected by substance abuse. Excerpts may also be viewed on-line at http://www.pluymen.com. For order information, contact Elizabeth Franks at 512/478-2028.

CEU Accreditation

For our certified addictions counselors and others who attended the National Workshop who need continuing education units (CEU's) from Georgetown University, we will once again applyfor these credits. There is a $15.00 fee for the process. Please send your check payable to the ABA, to Gerri Sandner, 321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610. She will also need your social security number and address. Certification from Georgetown will be sent directly to you. (Note: Professional Development Hours and Continuing Legal Education credit was also awarded for this workshop.)

CoLAP Offers New Products

The 1997 Directory of State and Local Lawyer Assistance Programs will be available by the 1st of the year. This new directory will include all the new directors and address changes that we have received to date. You can order a copy by sending your check for $25.00 payable to the ABA, to Gerri Sandner, ABA CoLAP, 321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610.
CoLAP T-Shirt - Black with CoLAP logo, Sizes L and XL - $15.00
CoLAP Tote Bag - Black canvas "beach" bag with CoLAP logo. $15.00.
Help support the Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs by wearing their T-Shirt or carrying their Tote Bag. Please send your check payable to the ABA, to Gerri Sandner, ABA CoLAP, 321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610.
Depression Audiotape - During the ABA 1996 Annual Meeting in Orlando, the National Conference of Bar Presidents presented a panel on "Depression Among Lawyers: How to Identify It and Where to Get Help." Mike Crowley (TX), Don Jones (TX), and Judy Rushlow (FL) were speakers and did an outstanding job. Copies of the tape are available by calling "Teach Em" at 312/467-0424. The tape number is ABA 6333, and the cost is $12.00.

First Recovery Network Partnership Formed

For the first time in television history, a network is established to help millions of Americans find the recovery support they need. The Recovery Network was launched in Boston on March 11, 1996 on Cablevision systems with a limited program schedule. Comprised of both instructional and inspirational lectures, the Network features respected recovery figures, person-to-person interactive discussions, self-help documentaries, and reality-based dramas. The latest psychological, medical and spiritual advances regarding the causes of addictive behavior will be introduced, as well as the Twelve Step Philosophy and other recognized approaches to treatment. It is Recovery Network's intention to create a Partnership composed of organizations, institutions, companies, agencies and distinguished people who are involved with and passionate about the process of recovery. They ask of each Partner that you lend your name and goodwill to their cause, and where appropriate endorse Recovery Network to your community. For more information, contact Recovery Network, Inc. at 310/393-3979 or e-mail: dmasters@recoverynet.com.

New Programs Directors Named

Four new program directors have been hired since the last issue of Highlights.
The Georgia Lawyers Assistance Program has hired Cynthia Jones to replace Carol Lind Bryan. More information on Cynthia will appear in the next issue of Highlights.
The Indiana State Bar Association has hired Dudley Miller as its new LAP Director. Dudley has been a long-time volunteer with the State Bar committee and attended our National Workshop in Bal Harbour. You can reach Dudley at 2103 Whitewood Court, Indianapolis, IN 46260 (317/872-1294).
The District of Columbia Bar also has a new Lawyer Counseling Program Director, to replace Susann Makepeace. David S. Schwartz, Ph.D. assumed the position as director just prior to the National Workshop, at which time many of us had an opportunity to meet him. David has also joined the National Workshop Planning Committee for the next workshop that will be held in DC in September 1997. You can contact David at The District of Columbia Bar, Sixth Floor, 1250 H Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005-5937 (202/347-3131).
Finally, we need to welcome back Ken Hagreen to Pennsylvania Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, Inc. Ken took a short leave to practice law, but has been persuaded to return and continue his very important work with lawyers suffering from addictions and other health problems. Ken is available at 3920 Market Street, Cam Hill, PA 17011 (717/432-9660).
England and Vancouver have not yet filled their director positions.

Condolences

It is with much sadness that I notify you of the passing of Roderick P. Martinelli of San Rafael, California. He passed away on November 1, 1996 after a long struggle with lung cancer. Rod was a friend to many of us and the long time Treasurer for The Other Bar in California. Condolences can be sent to his wife, Jess Martinelli, c/o John J. Grey, Suite 520, 1000 4th Street, San Rafael, CA 94901.

Awards and Congratulations

Judge Phil Howerton was recently honored by Hope Haven, Inc., a residential treatment program for women in Charlotte, for making a difference in his community. Each year at their annual luncheon, Hope Haven presents the Trotter-Black award to recognize and honor individuals or organizations for their contributions to the field of recovery and addiction. This year, Phil, a district court judge, was honored because of his outstanding efforts in initiating a "test model" close-supervision, drug treatment court in Mecklenburg County designed to handle some 50 addicted but nonviolent defendants. The treatment court is aimed at users, not dealers. Most participants are charged with felony drug possession. They must admit guilt and agree to probation, treatment, counseling, drug testing, and attend at least four 12-step meetings a week. Charges are dropped if they stay drug-free for a year.
Jim Stanton, Co-Chair of the Northwest Indiana Bar-Tenders group, and Indiana lawyer, Judy Haller, were married on September 21, 1996. They were kind enough to share their honeymoon with us in Bal Harbour, Florida during the National Workshop for Lawyer Assistance Programs and ILAA.
John B. Webber received the Vermont Bar Association Distinguished Service Award for his dedication and conscientious service to the Lawyers Assistance Program and to honor his service to the Vermont Bar Association and the needs of its members. This award was presented on September 20, 1996 by Peter W. Hall, President of the VBA.
Robert P. Cummins, CoLAP member, Donna L. Spilis, CoLAP Staff Director, and Michael J. Howlett, Jr., past President of the Lawyers' Assistance Program Inc. of Illinois, were presented with Gratitude Awards at the Annual Illinois LAP Dinner on October 4, 1996. Messrs. Cummins and Howlett received their special recognition award for defending Justice Warren Wolfson, Judge Donna Cervini, and the Illinois LAP in the Intervention Disclosure Order promulgated in a Federal Law Suit. Donna Spilis was recognized for assisting the Illinois LAP to interact with the other Canadian and U.S. programs and for her role in providing educational opportunities to the Illinois program.
Jim Heiting, past President of The Other Bar in California ( 91-93), has been elected President of the Riverside County Bar Association. His term began September 1, 1996 and runs through August 31, 1997. This provides a great opportunity for us to see more of Jim and his wife, Cindy, at ABA Midyear and Annual Meetings.
Hon. Sarah Krauss - The Brooklyn Women's Bar Association recognized Judge Sarah (Sallie) Krauss at its 78th Annual Dinner by presenting her with the Sybil Hart Kooper Award. This award is presented to a woman in the Brooklyn Bar Association who has demonstrated "dedication and continuing efforts in the furtherance of justice and for outstanding service on behalf of the Brooklyn Women's Bar Association."
Ben Graham, chair of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers in Las Vegas and a veteran Clark County chief deputy district lawyer, has won a deserved honor from the Nevada State Bar. Ben has been given the 1996 Distinguished Public Lawyer Award. He has not only been an active lobbyist for the district attorney's office, he has volunteered to help inmates prepare for normal lives in society and has worked on projects for the needy. He also has been at the forefront in criminal justice reform. He well deserves this honor for his commitment to public service and the legal profession.
Linda Kittelson, has been hired as the new Manager of the Dentists' Wellness and Assistance Programs at the American Dental Association, replacing Linda Crosby, who relocated to North Carolina. Linda assumed her position at the ADA in October after spending many years in addictions treatment, much of it in specialty treatment for impaired health professionals at Rush Behavioral Health in Illinois.

Target Dates

Updated: 10/3/2006

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