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October 04, 2004

Managing the Bad Stuff

A reader writes in to spread the word about the New Jersey Lawyers Assistance Program:
The purpose of the New Jersey Lawyers Assistance Program (NJLAP) is to provide assistance to attorneys, members of the judiciary, law students, and law graduates with alcohol, drug, gambling, emotional, behavioral and other personal problems that affect well-being and professional performance. NJLAP provides free, confidential, professional assistance with these and other issues to you or an attorney you know.
Although it appears this resource is intended primarily for New Jersey residents, the site includes a blog that allows anyone to ask questions anonymously, so it looks like you're welcome to take advantage of it, wherever you are. The blog has a For Law Students Category, which appears thus far to focus primarily on managing stress. It's all pretty impressive, really. Sure, it's a little scary to know you're entering a profession that somehow seems to drive people to various forms of addiction or other personal problems, but better to recognize that in advance than be surprised by it later, and it's good to know resources are available to help those in need. Do other states do something like this, or is NJ taking the lead here?

Posted by mowabb at October 4, 2004 11:43 AM

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Comments

All states have similar lawyers assistance programs serving students, and we link to them on the New Jersey Lawyers Assistance Program blawg. You can also go directly to that page by clicking on
www.ConfidentialHelp.com. So far New Jersey is the only program with a blawg.

Explore the blawg when you have time. It has sections on:

- addictions
-alcohol abuse & alcoholism
-new drugs successful in helping alcoholics cut cravings & reduce drinking
-depression
-personal stories from people who have gone through addiction & depression
-gambling addictions
-stress
-coping in law school
-drugs & prescription drugs
-eating disorders
-understanding 12 Step programs
-recovery
-women & law,
-career concerns

... and a number of other resources, and we'll be adding more information every few days. You may want to add it to your RSS feeds so you get all the posts. After all, even if you don't need us, chances are that you know someone who does. You can also ask us questions anonymously through the blawg.

Posted by: rachelle at October 4, 2004 02:10 PM

As a Floridian, I can confirm we have an assistance program for lawyers with drug and alcohol addiction, but there's a major difference. In our state, at least in its consideration, this program is for after you've been caught. Or screwed up in some other fashion.

Its refreshing to see an attempt to offer help before, in a sense, its too late...

Posted by: Christopher Chopin at October 6, 2004 01:06 AM