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The editors and staff of the Utah Bar Journal have graciously announced their intent to dedicate the August/September issue of the Utah Bar Journal to the pursuits and purposes of Lawyers Helping Lawyers ("LHL"). Dr. Lynn Johnson's article on Stress Management in this Journal makes reference to LHL, so this article is intended as a brief background of LHL and how we got started. This article also takes a quick glance at what we are doing at LHL, what we have planned and what to look forward to in that upcoming August/September issue of the Utah Bar Journal.
In 1988 the Board of Governors of the ABA created a commission to assist lawyers and judges to overcome the problems of addiction and substance abuse. The ABA encouraged each state bar
association to create a lawyer assistance program to aid those lawyers and judges whose lives and practices are jeopardized by the problems of substance abuse.
In 1996 the ABA's Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs ("CoLAP") expanded services to include helping with problems stemming from stress, depression and other mental health
issues. More recently CoLAP has assisted and encouraged the state bar programs to include services for those members of the profession who encounter other debilitating problems such as
gambling addictions, professional burnout, internet addictions, sexual addictions and a variety of compulsive disorders.
Lawyers Helping Lawyers ("LHL") is the Utah Lawyer Assistance Program created originally as a committee within the Bar. In 1990 the LHL Committee sought and received an amendment
to Rule 8.3 of the Rules of Professional Conduct specifically exempting LHL members from the duty to report misconduct they learn about through their work with LHL. Accordingly, all
contacts with LHL are completely confidential. Rule 8.3(d) and the commentary that follows the rule provides that, when appropriate, members of the profession may choose to contact LHL as
a practical alternative to meet the ethical obligation to report misconduct.
Once contacted, LHL functions as a clearinghouse to elicit and arrange help from a network of professionals who can confidentially advise and assist members of the Bar to successfully deal
with the debilitating issues discussed above as well as to enhance their lives and practices in other ways.
In 2001 the Utah State Bar gave the LHL Committee a small grant to reorganize from its committee status at the Utah Bar to a not-for-profit corporation to assure independent and
confidential assistance to any Utah lawyer or judge whose professional or personal life might be impaired due to addiction, mental health issues or substance abuse. (Visit our website for
more information: www.LawyersHelpingLawyers.org)
We have substantiated the obvious at LHL confirming that the more visible we are, the more calls we receive. Understandably, we are excited that the Utah Bar Journal will dedicate the August/September 2003 edition to Lawyers Helping Lawyers and provide us the additional visibility. Members can expect in that edition to read more from Dr. Lynn Johnson on specific how-to tips for successfully reducing and handling the stress and pressures of law practice. Additionally, LHL will contribute articles on a variety of topics aimed at enhancing the law practice and the quality of life for members of the Bar.
LHL also intends to include in the issue some success stories of lawyers and judges who have confronted substance abuse and mental health issues and who have overcome those problems and
continue in successful recovery as talented and wonderful members of our legal profession.
Just last December the ABA sent out the Chair of CoLAP and two CoLAP commissioners to review and evaluate the program at LHL. During the evaluation process, the ABA Commissioners spoke
with Bar leadership, representatives from the courts, the law school deans and others. The August/September issue will contain a report on the results of that evaluation.
Stay tuned for more about LHL, but in the meantime, consider Dr. Johnson's concluding remarks in his article about managing stress:
Do not tolerate high levels of stress in your life. If you are experiencing emotional symptoms or if you are using alcohol or drugs to cope with stress, the Lawyers Helping Lawyers
program can be of great service to you. It really is quite feasible to live a happier, more productive and more fulfilling life.
Contact LHL at 579-0404, or in state 1-800-530-3743.
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