Lawyers Helping Lawyers: a Glimpse Inside the Profession of Lawyer Assistance

• Citation: Vol. 36-2
• Publication year: 2024
• Year: 2024

Lawyers Helping Lawyers: A Glimpse Inside the Profession of Lawyer Assistance

Vol. 36 Issue 2 Pg. 21

South Carolina Lawyer

November, 2024

By Beth Padgett

Every year in the early fall members of the S.C. Bar Lawyers Helping Lawyers team attend the annual conference of the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP.) Last month Briana Suhr, Frances Anderson, and I attended this year's conference in Colorado Springs. This conference is the only gathering of professionals who serve to improve the mental and emotional wellbeing of attorneys where we get education about ways to add value to our programs and better serve the cause of improving mental health in the legal profession. This year's conference focused on the various transitions a person faces as they negotiate their way from being an excited and overwhelmed IL to being a happy retired attorney.

I've been to over a dozen of these conferences while this was Ms. Suhr's second and Ms. Anderson's first experience at CoLAP. To get a fresh look at this event, I asked them to write about what they took away from the conference and how they planned to use these takeaways. I thought I would share these in this column to give you all a glimpse inside this unique profession.

From Briana Suhr:

Since I returned from the 2023 COLAP Conference, I've been looking forward to attending this year's conference. It is a time for us to reconnect to our purpose and talk to other people who do our job in other states. Did you know that we at LHL are the only people in the state who do what we do? If we need guidance or assistance often that means looking out of state at other Lawyer Assistance Programs. When we do get to share a room with others who do what we do, it is special.

It is not hard to feel inspired when speaking with people who love what they do for work. The presenters and planning committee at our conference work tirelessly to make sure that we leave feeling reinvigorated. The topics discussed ranged from how to handle grief, to finding joy, to working with law students, working with lawyers facing retirement and more. Many areas of the law profession were represented, and we identified some areas of inspiration for future work ideas.

I also felt inspired by my own LHL team. Beth Padgett and Frances Anderson were pillars of strength and perseverance throughout the week. They were examples of what showing up and being a representative of something bigger than yourself looks like. I am proud to work with them day in and day out and know we are building a top notch LAP program for the S.C. Bar. Much of my work is focused on our law students and young lawyers. I'm eager to use the information and energy I've gained from the presenters and my new colleagues to enhance the careers and lives of my clients.

From Frances Anderson:

It was an honor to attend the recent National Conference for the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs. Being new to my position as volunteer coordinator at Lawyers Helping Lawyers, I found the conference extremely informative and helpful in how I can better collaborate with our lawyer volunteers. I enjoyed many aspects of my time away from the office especially learning alongside my fellow coworkers, Beth Padgett and Briana Suhr. Since joining Lawyers Helping Lawyers, I have seen all that Beth and Briana do to help the law students, lawyers and judges in our state. Having now attended the conference, I am awe-struck by the fact that teams of dedicated professionals are doing this good work in nearly every other state in the country.

It was incredible to sit in such a large room surrounded by other Lawyer Assistance professionals. What I found most amazing was the singular, powerful question underlying every session we attended: "how do we help every law student, lawyer or judge who might need assistance?" Whether it be through stress management, coping with grief and loss, or aiding in the transition to retirement, every presenter truly wanted to help find ways to better serve the community of lawyers. Some presenters were attorneys or former attorneys, some were psychiatrists or therapists, some were presiding judges, and many were in long-term recovery from a substance use disorder. But all were focused on helping lawyers be the best they can be and overcoming any obstacle which may stand in the way.

Of particular importance to me were the sessions around recovery. As a former practicing attorney who is in long-term recovery, I can appreciate how difficult it is for attorneys to reach out for help. I can also understand how the stressors surrounding practicing law can lead to a substance use disorder. Discussing the stigma around this issue and how to approach an attorney who may need help was beneficial. I was reminded that attorneys (like the rest of society) who are struggling need to be heard and respected not just as a lawyer, but as a human being. Perhaps the most important thing we can offer is a safe space for those conversations to occur and a trusted network of volunteers to listen.

I look forward ato working with so many awesome volunteers at Lawyers Helping Lawyers. And I hope to add more volunteers to our list. If you are interested in learning more about volunteer work at Lawyers

Lawyers Helping Lawyers provides confidential services to all South Carolina law students, lawyers, and judges who are experiencing challenges due to stress, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and other mental illnesses and emotional problems. You can reach Beth Padgett at 803-240-6526 or Briana Suhr at 803-719-3716 regarding any mental health issue. If you'd like information about volunteering for LHL, please contact Frances Anderson by email at frances. anderson@scbar.org or by phone at 803-576-3801.