California attorneys (active, inactive, or disbarred) can access the Lawyer Assistance Program's (LAP) free MCLE presentations, a free assessment with service referrals, short-term counseling, and longer-term support groups.
The LAP hosts free, virtual or in-person presentations on wellness strategies for legal professionals. Topics include addressing substance use and mental health issues that can impair the ability to practice law competently. These one-hour presentations qualify for an hour of MCLE competency credit and are appropriate for:
To schedule a presentation, please complete a request form and send it to Lita Abella at Lita.Abella@calbar.ca.gov, or call 213-765-1165. Please note: No presentations will be scheduled between May 23 and August 1, 2022.
As a California attorney (active, inactive, or disbarred), you can receive a free professional mental health assessment and an opportunity to participate in the Lawyer Assistance Program without making a long-term commitment.
When you call, you will speak to someone who can discuss your problem and find out what services you need. Remember, all communications are strictly confidential.
“Be open-minded to it. It absolutely transformed my life. I had no anticipation or expectation of that.” —LAP Participant
The State Bar provides free, short-term counseling for attorneys who need help with a difficult personal problem or career transition. You can access up to two free one-on-one counseling sessions with a local therapist who specializes in working with legal professionals around any personal issue or concern impacting work productivity—stress, burnout, depression, career concerns, or relationship issues.
You can also access up to two free one-on-one sessions with a career counselor for participants who:
“I joined the program because I discovered that I had a major depression problem that affected my ability to function and make good decisions.” —LAP Participant
For information on short-term counseling services, please call 800-341-0572 or email the Transition Assistance Service.
Attorneys interested in ongoing support can participate in a weekly group meeting with other legal professionals. Groups are facilitated by a qualified mental health professional. There is a fee for group participation. Financial assistance is available for qualified participants. Contact our office for more information.
“There were a lot of different people with a lot of different experiences all working to help give me guidance and help me with improving my life.” —LAP support group participant
Do you need to satisfy a specific monitoring or verification requirement imposed by an employer, the Office of Chief Trial Counsel, the State Bar Court, the Office of Admissions, or another entity? If so, see Monitored LAP.
Want to know more? Your call or email is confidential.
Michelle Harmon Lawyer Assistance Program 877-LAP-4HELP/877-527-4435 LAP@calbar.ca.gov