Frequently Asked Questions

LAPBC is an independent organization of members of the BC legal community (lawyers, articling and law students, judges, families and support staff). We provide confidential counselling, peer support and referral services to help people address personal challenges – including challenges with alcohol, drug use, stress and anxiety, depression, life/career transitions, and more.

Because being a legal professional is challenging and can be, at times, really difficult.

In a recent Canadian study:

• Almost 60% of legal professionals reported experiencing psychological distress:
• Almost 30% of legal professionals reported experiencing moderate to severe depressive symptoms;
• Over 35% of legal professionals reported experiencing anxiety symptoms; and
• Over 55% of legal professionals reported experiencing burnout.

The legal profession presents unique stressors, including:

• High-pressure environments and tight deadlines;
• Adversarial nature of legal work;
• Heavy workloads and long hours;
• Financial pressures;
• Perfectionist culture;
• Isolation and competition;
• Exposure to traumatic content; and
• Client demands and expectations.
  

When you contact LAPBC, you'll speak with someone who understands the legal profession. We will listen without judgment and work with you to determine what kind of support would be most helpful.

Remember: Taking care of your mental health is as important as taking care of your physical health. Seeking help is a sign of strength and self-awareness, not a sign of weakness.

Our services are available to:

• Lawyers in BC (practising, non-practising, retired, suspended);
• Articled students and law students;
• Judges and judicial staff;
• Legal support staff;
• Close adult family of members of any of the above (Note: LAPBC does not provide services for minor children, but can provide information on other sources of support and resources).

All LAPBC services are completely free. The Law Society of BC collects a levy from members to fund our services. Our status as an independent nonprofit allows us to maintain our own programs and our confidentiality.

Common challenges we support include:

• Mental health (including depression, anxiety, and burnout);
• Substance use;
• Compulsive behaviour (including gambling, shopping, and sex);
• Stress (including practice stress, personal stress, and financial stress);
• Work-life balance/integration/harmony/design;
• Perfectionism and imposter syndrome;
• Building resilience;
• Career transitions;
• Relationship problems;
• Grief and loss;
• Procrastination;
• Healthy boundaries;
• Difficult conversations;
• Creating healthy habits; and
• Improving mindfulness.

• Confidential counselling: Providing one-on-one support with a counsellor or lawyer coach. We also meet with couples to initiate counselling.
• Peer support: Connecting with other legal professionals who understand your experience.
• Referral services: Helping finding appropriate mental health professionals, treatment programs, or specialists.
• Educational workshops: Providing the opportunity to learn skills on topics like stress management and work-life balance that earn CPDs.
• Educational programs to other organizations and law firms: We can provide a variety of programs on well-being and mental health topics.
• Weekly meetings and support groups: Facilitating Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Co-dependents Anonymous meetings, Accountability Group meetings, and weekly drop-in Zoom discussion group for members of the legal community to discuss well-being in the practice of law.
• Intervention: Performing substance use and mental health interventions.
• Community building: Creating space for volunteering and peer-to-peer connection.

Our primary role is to provide initial, short-term support and then help connect you with appropriate long-term care providers and other resources in your community. We can offer longer-term assistance through our groups and volunteer peer support.

Yes, absolutely. All inquiries and interactions are strictly confidential.

No. LAPBC is independent from the Law Society and its services are confidential. LAPBC does not report your conversations to anyone nor do we tell anyone that you are working with a LAPBC counsellor.

Yes, you can reach out anonymously – whatever you are comfortable with. We understand that taking the first step can feel overwhelming, and we are here to support you.

The best way to reach us is to call 604.685.2171 or 1.888.685.2171, or by confidential email to info@lapbc.com. When calling in, we will ask for your confidential contact information, both phone and email. You may also leave a confidential voice message with these details if your call is not answered (press 7). Your contact information will be provided to a counsellor that will contact you directly to set up an appointment within 24 hours. If your matter is urgent, pressing 9 will connect you to our on-call counsellor.

You can contact LAPBC at any time. We are available 24 hours/day, 365 days/year.

If you are in need of urgent assistance, call 604.685.2171 or 1.888.685.2171 and press 9 when you hear the voicemail message. Pressing 9 will connect you directly to the on-call counsellor. They will try their best to pick up your call immediately, however, if they are unable to do so at that moment, please leave a message and trust that they will return your callas soon as they possibly can.

Absolutely. No problem is too small. Early intervention often prevents larger issues. Your well-being is a worthy investment for you and for us - whether you are dealing with everyday stress or facing a crisis, we are here to help.

While we encourage individuals to reach out themselves, you may contact us to discuss how to help someone that you are concerned about. If we receive two independent calls/referrals, about an individual who exhibits concerning behaviours to themselves or others, we will approach the person confidentially to offer assistance and information – you can find out more here: LAPBC - Help Someone.

If you feel comfortable, it may also be helpful to provide the person with information for LAPBC, perhaps encouraging them to visit our website.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911. Please feel free to call us for support, as well.

We regularly offer educational workshops on topics such as:

• Fighting the Winter Blues;
• Managing Stress;
• Work-life Integration;
• Tools for relaxation, self-regulation and productivity;
• Practice transition and retirement planning;
• Building Resilience;
• Navigating the Profession;
• Time and Energy Management;
• Preventing Burnout;
• Imposter Syndrome;
• Creating Healthy Habits; and
• Depression and Anxiety.

Check out our workshop page and follow us on LinkedIn for updates on workshops and events. You can also call us at 604.685.2171 to inquire about upcoming programming.

Yes! LAPBC facilitates Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Co-Dependents Anonymous meetings, and a drop-in Zoom discussion groups for members of the legal community focusing on well-being in the practice of law. These groups provide peer support and connection with others who understand your experience.

LAPBC could not exist without the support of hundreds of volunteers from the BC legal community. Volunteers participate in:

• Peer support and counselling;
• Educational program delivery;
• Outreach activities; and
• Board governance.

Contact us to learn about volunteer opportunities and training.

All volunteers receive in-depth training, including ongoing sessions (online and in-person) throughout the year.

The legal profession can be challenging, and you do not have to face those challenges alone. LAPBC is here to provide confidential, compassionate support when you need it most. Whether you are dealing with stress, mental health concerns, substance use issues, or just need someone to talk to who understands the unique pressures of legal practice, we are here for you.

Contact us today:

●     Phone: 604.685.2171 or 1.888.685.2171

●     Email: info@lapbc.com

●     Website: www.lapbc.com

Taking the first step toward getting help is often the hardest part. We are here to make the rest of the journey easier.