About LAP Services Staff & Board Members FAQ
LAP Services
LAP services are provided by its Executive Director, Associate Directors, Peer Volunteers and support staff. Our services include:
Outreach:
The Executive Director or Associate Director will contact a member of the legal community to offer help - if help is desired. This is sometimes referred to as a "soft intervention".
Intervention:
An intervention is a group process initiated by family, friends or colleagues with the objective of confronting an addicted member of the legal community with the facts of his or her using behavior. It is coordinated by either the LAP Executive Director or Associate Director and usually includes several intervenors. Interventions are well planned and rehearsed.
Legal Counsel:
We have volunteers willing to provide Pro Bono legal assistance - particularly with regard to problems with the Law Society (such as discipline, practice standards or credentials).
Information and Referral:
Referral options and recommendations are discussed with clients regarding appropriate treatment, organizations, agencies and private practitioners. LAP provides information to the legal profession on issues of addiction and mental health problems impacting the profession.
Consultation:
Consultation is provided to law firms, organizations and individuals regarding problems in the workplace including drug and alcohol addictions and mental health problems.
Education:
LAP provides addiction and mental health education to the legal profession in groups or individually. Our website and newsletters feature current information and links to other resources. The LAP office maintains a resource library for members use and provides training assistance.
Volunteer Training:
While the peer volunteers provide vital support to lawyers in need, continuing communication and training between volunteers and LAP staff is also necessary. By maintaining and improving their own lifestyles and recovery, our volunteers provide ongoing examples to the profession as a whole.
Prevention:
Through a series of Healthy Living Workshops, LAP emphasizes the many ways lawyers and legal professionals can lead healthier lives. There can be no doubt that the profession is enhanced when lawyers confront problems when they are small, when they recognize behaviour patterns that could be changed for the better and when they learn to embrace healthy lifestyles.
The workshops are periodically throughout B.C. Please phone or email the LAP office for the next session near you.
Events:
Each year, LAP plans events such as the Annual Gratitude Lunch, the Volunteer Training Retreat, 12 Step Spiritual Retreats and day long seminars on refirement, alternative careers, and other topics. For a full listing, please see the events section of our website.