Introducing SOLACE—A Member Benefit for Life’s “What Ifs”, 0118 COBJ, Vol. 47, No. 1 Pg. 4

AuthorDICK GAST, J.
PositionVol. 47, 1 [Page 4]

47 Colo.Law. 4

Introducing SOLACE—A Member Benefit for Life’s “What Ifs”

Vol. 47, No. 1 [Page 4]

The Colorado Lawyer

January, 2018

CBA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

DICK GAST, J.

While navigating life’s bumpy road, we tend to ask ourselves a series of “what ifs.” What if cancer strikes me or a loved one? What if my home or office burns down? What if I’m injured in a car accident? We may think we’re prepared for these “what ifs,” but we can never truly be prepared for everything. The road ahead is full of surprises.

That’s why I’m proud to announce a new CBA member benefit: the SOLACE program. SOLACE, which stands for “Support of Lawyers/ Legal Personnel—All Concern Encouraged,” is a support network for the legal community. In Colorado, this community comprises judges, lawyers, paralegals, legal assistants, and court reporters, as well as anyone employed by a law firm, a court, or the CBA, and their family members. When someone in this community experiences a potentially life-changing event— such as a death, catastrophic event, illness, injury, or other personal crisis—the individual, or a family member, can turn to SOLACE for compassionate support.

Assistance When It’s Needed Most

SOLACE has been successfully implemented in more than 20 states and will be a wonderful benefit for the Colorado legal community. The program was founded in New Orleans by the Honorable Jay Zainey, a U.S. district court judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and Mark C. Suprenant, a New Orleans lawyer. In 2002, Suprenant’s wife, also a New Orleans lawyer, fell ill. She went on to recover from her illness, but the experience led Suprenant to believe there were likely many others like him who could use a helping hand in difficult times.

SOLACE was born when he created a network of members in the legal community who could respond when someone in that same community needed assistance.

The beauty of SOLACE is that it does not require a large commitment from participants, while the benefit to the person in need is significant. The tagline “nothing too big, nothing too small” reminds SOLACE participants that when any legal community member is in need, whether the need is seemingly insurmountable or trivial, that member can contact SOLACE for assistance.

Here are just a few examples of SOLACE success stories from other states:

■ A solo practitioner lost everything when her office was consumed by a...

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