“We were very pleased with our first Retreat and pleasantly surprised at its success,” declares LAP Director Richard Vincent. “Everyone present walked away with a better understanding of the resources available to volunteer attorneys and judges to help them address substance abuse and mental health problems in the legal profession. The Retreat guided lawyer assistance attorneys on ways to support and help attorneys who are impaired.”

In addition to several moving videotapes of impaired lawyers in dire situations as a result of substance abuse, the Retreat featured a panel discussion on the legal community’s response to lawyer impairment. MSBA Executive Director Paul V. Carlin offered the history of MSBA’s LAP program, which is the oldest in the country. In 1981, through an ABA grant, MSBA created LAP’s predecessor, the Lawyer Counseling Committee (LCC), and hired Vincent as the Director.

“MSBA strongly supports this program,” Carlin reported. “When LCC started, it mainly addressed substance abuse and drugs. Although this is still the majority of its caseload, LCC expanded over the years, became LAP in 1998, and now covers stress, senility, retirement, death, grief and other things, too. We expanded LAP’s core mission to include human behavior issues.”

Carlin commended Vincent and Carol Waldhauser, LAP’s Assistant Director, for all of their efforts. “They visit the law schools and meet with judges to discuss lawyer impairment problems and promote LAP’s services,” he noted. “They operate peer core-group meetings and work with the Committee to help lawyers in need.”

Through the efforts of hundreds of volunteer lawyers and judges, LAP has assisted thousands of distressed attorneys and judges. “LAP’s work is most satisfying because it is helping people,” Carlin stated. He also told the audience about LAP’s new Bates and Vincent Foundation that helps attorneys pay for needed services.

Bar Counsel Melvin Hirshman, another panelist, talked about the new conditional diversion program which is part of the attorney discipline rules, revised in July 2001. This program addresses minor attorney problems, and once the lawyer successfully completes the diversion program, the complaint is usually dismissed. “We currently have 71 attorneys in conditional diversion, with issues ranging from alcohol and anger management to psychiatric and mental health,” Hirshman reported.

“Our goal is to protect the public and discipline attorneys when it is necessary,” he added. “These attorneys cause bad marks for the whole profession.”

Hirshman reports an increasing number of stress and mental health-related grievances in recent years. However, litigation still attracts 98 percent of complaints against Maryland lawyers. “These lawyers have high stress, and the economy adds pressure; it is tough out there.”

“I pass a number of attorney’s names on to Richard Vincent so that LAP will help them. LAP saves individual attorneys,” Hirshman added. “We support LAP as an important program where attorneys can get help. And remember, lawyers can be reinstated if they get better. Today, thanks to LAP, there is more confidential help from lawyers than ever before.”

Kay Kenny, Assistant Vice President of the LMI Agency, then discussed risk management. She noted that depression and alcoholism lead to many malpractice complaints and discussed the signs and ways for attorneys to manage these risks. She promoted LAP as an excellent support tool and place to go for help. “LMI works with and supports LAP to help Maryland’s lawyers,” Kenny added.

Finally, LAP Committee Vice-Chair William G. Simmons, who goes out and offers hands-on support to distressed attorneys, explained that most referrals come from judges and other attorneys. He discussed strategies for assistance, with the judge’s involvement being the most effective, and noted that solos and small firm practitioners are the ones who need the greatest support. Simmons sees more problems with senility and clinical depression today and rates stress and economics as other major culprits.

Other Retreat highlights included an analysis of mental health issues with Ralph Raphael, Ph.D., an update on support training with John J. McClanahan, Ph.D., a discussion of the observations of attorneys who volunteer for lawyer assistance who help others with Jonathan Shoup, a member of LAP’s Committee, and the very special appearance by Ernie the Attorney as entertainment during dinner. All attendees found these sessions inspiring and educational.

Vincent was pleased to see representatives from Washington, D.C., and Kentucky in attendance at LAP’s Retreat; both jurisdictions are beginning LAP programs of their own and hope to model them after MSBA’s successful LAP efforts. Plus, next year’s LAP Retreat may broaden its scope and become a Regional Conference. “Our final discussion suggested we should explore the possibility of including Delaware and the District of Columbia and possibly other states next year,” Vincent stated. It is likely to be another hit.

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Publications : Bar Bulletin: April, 2005