Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. Every Friday, I drove thirty minutes to the liquor store to purchase my week’s libations: a handle (1.75-liter bottle) of Johnnie Walker Black Label … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: The following message was sent to State Bar of Texas members on August 21. This message includes updated information related to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other State Bar updates. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. 2021 State Bar of Texas Election The Nominations and … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to 555888, or find more information at tlaphelps.org. As I write this on July 28, 2020, at 7:30 a.m., I am at the courthouse square in a small central Texas … Continue Reading
The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program will present “Well-Being for Law Students and Grads Studying for the Bar Exam,” from noon to 1 p.m. CDT on July 29. The webinar can be viewed on Zoom and will be recorded for later viewings. Additionally, TLAP recently produced a program for law students and graduates dealing with anxiety … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to 555888, or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I spent my whole life before law school achieving great things academically and trying to be perfect—and to somehow prove to myself … Continue Reading
Registration is now open for the 2020 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting On Demand—the State Bar’s first virtual annual meeting—on June 25-26. The June 25 session will feature a full day (up to 8 hours) of on-demand CLE from State Bar sections for the low rate of $150. A full list of CLE offerings … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to 555888, or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I have always struggled with the feeling of “not enough.” Not smart enough. Not nice enough. Not worthy enough. I could go … Continue Reading
I grew up in Midland in the ’90s and early 2000s. Depression was out there, and people were starting to have normalizing conversations about it, but it was (and still is) something very misunderstood by a large number of people. When I was young, it was talked about as a defect or some fault in … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on June 29, 2018. Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to 555888, or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I started drinking in high school and immediately liked the way … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: State Bar of Texas President Randy Sorrels and Executive Director Trey Apffel sent the following update to members on Friday. We are writing to share the latest updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy. State Bar Membership Fees We have received several questions … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: State Bar of Texas President Randy Sorrels and Executive Director Trey Apffel sent the following message to members Friday. We are writing to share important updates from the week related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and well. Civility in the Practice of Law … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to 555888, or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I am a trial lawyer. When I started practice 46 years ago, trial lawyers “were required” to work hard, play hard, and … Continue Reading
The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program’s “Remote Well-Being Wednesdays: A Coronavirus Series” will take place weekly through April 15, offering attorneys a resource for tending to their well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The programs will take place from noon to 1 p.m. CDT via Zoom on the following dates. April 1 “Being at Home Boot Camp”—TLAP … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: State Bar of Texas President Randy Sorrels and Executive Director Trey Apffel sent the following message to members on Friday. We hope this message finds you safe and well. We are writing to share the latest updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Orders and Travel Authorization for Lawyers Many … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on October 15, 2014. Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to 555888, or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I’ve been given the precious gift of life three times; when … Continue Reading
“Lately it occurs to me — What a long strange trip it’s been.” — The Grateful Dead Editor’s note: This post was originally published on August 22, 2014. Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on March 15, 2016. Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to 555888, or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I knew for some time that I might have a genetic … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on December 8, 2015. Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP), text TLAP to 555888, or find more information at tlaphelps.org. Editor’s note: TLAP has put together a paper that might be … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on April 21, 2014. Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. Even as a kid I identified with that cartoon character who walked around with a … Continue Reading
On the eve of World Mental Health Day, the State Bar of Texas released a video on Wednesday highlighting the importance of lawyers seeking help for anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health issues. “We are here to send a strong message to our legal community that it’s time that we recognize one thing: … Continue Reading
TexasBarCLE is offering a free half-hour presentation about the impact of addictions and mental health impairments on the lives of attorneys. “What Lawyers Need to Know about Depression and Suicide” will be held from 12:30 to 1 p.m. September 10 via live webcast (the video will be available to watch for credit through August 31, … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on May 15, 2014. Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance abuse or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I could not open my eyes. I could hear someone calling my name but … Continue Reading
I drank my first full beer at age 9. It was decades ago, but I remember it vividly. My parents were having a party and my childhood best friend and I stealthily looted two Coors Lights from the cooler and retreated to a back room.… Continue Reading
Editor’s note: TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance abuse or mental health issues. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. Law school made me an alcoholic, or to be fair to law school, it was during law school that I crossed over to alcoholism. In college, … Continue Reading
