Executive Director's Report, 1119 ALBJ, 80 The Alabama Lawyer 422 (2019)
| Author | Phillip W. McCallum |
| Position | Vol. 80 6 Pg. 422 |
Phillip W. McCallum
Walk by Faith
For the past seven years, the Alabama State Bar has been blessed to work with Robert Thornhill, director of the Alabama Lawyer Assistance Program (ALAP). As many of you know, there's a certain piece of wisdom Robert frequently shares-to walk by faith. We've been fortunate to watch Robert live out those words of wisdom during his time here at the bar. Robert was dedicated to his mission, and spent most of his days traveling throughout the state to help lawyers, law students and judges struggling with addiction and mental health issues. We will certainly miss Robert when he retires on January 31, 2020.
As president-elect seven years ago, I was on the search committee to find a dedicated and committed individual to help continue the legacy of Jeanne Marie Leslie, former director of ALAP. This was not an easy task, but through careful consideration we decided Robert was the best candidate. Now that I am the executive director of the Alabama State Bar, I have had the privilege to meet with many lawyers around the state. It has been a common occurrence for a lawyer to walk up to me and express their gratitude for ALAP and for the difference Robert and the members of the ALAP committee have made in their life or for a struggling unidentified colleague.
Since Robert is a living testimony of the miracle of recovery through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), his humility might make it difficult for him to share some of his many achievements while director of ALAP. In addition to sharing the mission of ALAP with bar members at various roadshows and CLEs throughout the state, Robert was honored to be part of a panel in 2018 that presented on the national study regarding alcohol use, depression, anxiety and stress among American attorneys that was published in the February 2016 edition of the Journal of Addiction Medicine. Robert was also on the task force appointed by former bar...
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