What if a Lawyer Doesn’t Want Help?

All LAP services are voluntary. We do not drag lawyers over our threshold and force them to submit to treatment. This is in keeping with the philosophy of 12-Step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, that emphasize the need for individuals not only to come to terms with their behavior but also to accept responsibility for these choices.

Some LAPs can be quite confrontational in their approach to lawyers with substance abuse issues. If a person isn’t ready to deal with her dysfunction, you may think your lunchtime talk or your intervention failed. But it might turn out to be the event that breaks through the force of the impaired lawyer’s denial. Again, the intent is to help the lawyer recognize that he is not an island and that his behavior affects peers, clients, family, and most importantly, himself.

LAPs started out focusing on alcohol and drug problems among lawyers. Now, though, many are expanding services to include medical, mental health, and career issues as it becomes more acceptable to admit that lawyers can self-destruct in numerous ways. If your LAP doesn’t address these issues in addition to substance abuse, it’s likely that the program will do so in the future.