Help and Support for Mental Health and Wellbeing
The Practice Of Law Is Demanding
It demands your time, your energy, and your attention. Whether you are preparing to enter the profession, already practicing, or winding down for retirement, your responsibilities to others often require you to put aside your own self-care in order to achieve success, often affecting your mental and physical wellbeing.
Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) was established in 1999 and is a not for-profit (501(c) 3) program of the City Bar Fund. Our mission is to support the mental health and wellbeing of the legal profession. Our services are free and confidential. Confidentiality is the cornerstone of our program, protected under Section 499 of the Judiciary Laws of 1993.
LAP assists lawyers, judges, law students, staff, colleagues and family members who are experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, ADHD, substance use problems as well as other mental health, personal and professional issues effecting wellbeing.
When you contact LAP about yourself or someone you are concerned about you will speak to a professional staff member will discuss the issue and provide services and resources that can best meet your needs.
LAP provides a wide range of services, including:
- Assessment
- Supportive counseling
- Peer support
- Referrals to therapists/support groups/specialists/career counselors
- Intervention
- Monitoring
- Guidance with admission and grievance issues
- Consultation and assistance to help someone you are concerned about
- Educational presentations to raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing in the profession
- Support group meetings (Lawyer AA and Lawyer NA)
LAP for Legal Employers
LAP is available to provide educational presentations and CLEs focusing on mental health and wellbeing, developing resilience, assisting staff to address a mental health and/or substance use issue, including provision of accommodations, work-life boundaries, impairment and ethical obligations, and stress and time management. LAP staff are available for consultation and guidance to encourage lawyers and other staff to seek help when needed.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
Meredith Heller, Esq., Director | MHeller@nycbar.org
Confidential Helpline: 212-302-5787