History

From its roots as a purely volunteer-run, member-based organization in the 1970’s, NC LAP has evolved into a fully staffed, full-service clinical model program with duly-licensed counselors specializing in mental health and addictions counseling, treatment placement, and support group facilitation.

Early Days

The North Carolina Lawyer Assistance Program’s (“NC LAP”) roots began in 1979 with the assemblage of a group of lawyer volunteers who were themselves recovering alcoholics who saw the need to offer assistance to other lawyers suffering from addiction and alcoholism. The group was named the Positive Action for Lawyers (“PALS”) Committee. In 1994, the State Bar formally recognized the PALS Committee and incorporated PALS as part of the State Bar administration and infrastructure and installed the first full-time Executive Director, Don Carroll.

Expanded Focus, Mission, and Staff

In 1999, after a series of lawyer suicides, recognizing the need for assistance for lawyers dealing with mental health issues not related to substance abuse, the State Bar sought to expand the focus and mission. However, the PALS brand was closely associated with alcohol problems. So, the State Bar formed a new FRIENDS Committee to focus on depression, anxiety, stress management and suicide prevention. PALS and FRIENDS were housed under the same umbrella department of the Bar, all managed by the Executive Director. Demand for services grew as the total number of licensed lawyers grew. Additional staff were hired (approximately 1 new staff position every 6 years) to meet the growing need. NC LAP has helped approximately 15% of licensed lawyers since its inception.

Consolidation and Rebranding

In 2011, we merged PALS and FRIENDS and rebranded the program and committees with a new logo into a single Lawyer Assistance Program (“LAP”). However, nothing changed operationally. In 2016, the ABA CoLAP and Hazelden Foundation conducted and released a study documenting the prevalence of impairment in the legal profession. In response to that study, the ABA Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being published, The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change in 2017. Momentum grew, igniting the rise of the lawyer well-being movement. NC LAP’s mission and messaging have remained consistent throughout this national and global transformation.

Staffing, Volunteers and Board

NC LAP currently has an executive director, an assistant director, two clinicians (duly licensed in mental health and addictions), and two office administration and special projects personnel. LAP’s peer-support roots remain strong, and we still have a cadre of dedicated, trained lawyer and judge volunteers, located throughout the state, who are actively involved in assisting and supporting lawyers and judges whenever and wherever needed. LAP’s board is comprised of three State Bar councilors, three LAP volunteers, and three clinicians or experts in the field of mental health and addiction. NC LAP also has a steering committee of volunteers from around the state who assist in the execution of special initiatives.

National Involvement

NC LAP is part of the ABA’s Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (“CoLAP”), a network of LAPs serving nearly all 50 states in the U.S. CoLAP evolved from what used to be known as the Commission on Impaired Attorneys, which helped fuel a national movement to establish formal lawyer assistance programs in each state across the nation in the early 90’s.