Suicide is a leading cause of death among lawyers. In fact, 11% of lawyers have had suicidal thoughts at some point in their careers. In recognition of these facts, and in honor of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, the State Bar of Texas wants all Texas lawyers to be aware of the life-saving resources available to … Continue Reading
Erica Grigg credits the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program with saving her life. This month, she became director of the 37-year-old program. The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program (TLAP) provides confidential help, referrals, and peer assistance programs to lawyers, judges, and law students experiencing mental health or substance use disorders. “Years ago, I reached out to TLAP … Continue Reading
The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program has created a one-hour video and educational program that seeks to educate the legal community about the signs that someone may be suffering from depression and vulnerable to suicide. Lawyers can earn one hour of free ethics continuing legal education credit for watching the film Just Ask: How We Must … Continue Reading
Become a well-being champion by participating in Well-Being Week in Law starting today through May 7! Here’s your chance to join others across the legal profession in doing activities that promote health and happiness. Check out the list of activities and webinars to participate in here. Each day of Well-Being Week in Law focuses on … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: The following message was sent to all members on Friday, February 19. Dear Member, We know many of you have been dealing with extended power outages, water service disruptions, and other emergencies. This time of hardship is stressing our families and our livelihoods. Warmer temperatures are coming, but recovery from this hardship may … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: The following message was sent to all members on February 5, 2021. Dear Member, This message includes updated information related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other State Bar of Texas information. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Supreme Court of Texas Emergency Order The Supreme Court … Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: The following message was sent to all members on Friday, January 15. Dear Member, This message includes updated information related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other State Bar of Texas information. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Supreme Court of Texas Emergency Order and OCA Guidance … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: The following message was sent to all members on Friday, November 13 regarding Supreme Court emergency orders and other items related to the pandemic. Dear Member, This message includes updated information related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Supreme Court of Texas … Continue Reading
The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program has launched a video counterpart to its “Stories of Recovery” that are featured on the Texas Bar Blog. “This ‘Stories of Recovery’ will be one with diverse stories but many of the things about these stories are similar, which is the path to recovery,” TLAP Director Chris Ritter said. “I … 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
“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
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
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. On the good days, I just felt like I was going to throw up at the courthouse. On the bad days, I would excuse myself … Continue Reading
The 30th Annual Texas Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers Convention will be held from May 31 to June 2, 2019, at the Austin Marriott South. The convention will feature national speakers discussing current research on mental health, substance abuse recovery, and how to maintain a more balanced professional life. Attendees will be able to earn up … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post is part of the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program’s Stories of Recovery blog series. 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) and find more information at tlaphelps.org. My ideal resume would read as the antithesis of conventional resumes. I’d memorialize both … Continue Reading
The State Bar of Texas’ Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program has taken the innovative step of adding a sitting judge to its staff of experts to reach out to fellow jurists about issues such as stress, burnout, compassion fatigue, and other mental health matters. The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program (TLAP) has always served judges as well … Continue Reading
More and more people are focusing on wellness and well-being, a movement that has been around for decades and gained mainstream media attention in the past couple of years. In fact, the July issue of the Texas Bar Journal focuses on lawyer wellness and well-being with articles on brain health, how meaningful work boosts well-being, … Continue Reading
The 29th Annual Texas Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers Convention will take place on June 1-3 at the Austin Marriott South. The convention will feature national speakers sharing their thoughts about current research on mental health, substance abuse recovery, and maintaining a more balanced professional life. Attendees will also have a chance to earn at least 6 hours … Continue Reading
A new video from the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program, featuring TLAP Director Bree Buchanan and Austin psychiatrist Robert Cantu, focuses on identifying post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, after Hurricane Harvey. In The Trauma of Harvey: Identifying PTSD in Yourself and Others, Buchanan and Cantu discuss the symptoms of and treatment for PTSD after a natural … Continue Reading
Editor’s note: This post is part of the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program’s Stories of Recovery series. 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) and find more information at tlaphelps.org. We lawyers are all pretty clever. We spend our careers trying to distinguish our facts … Continue Reading
Three Texas attorneys were included on the annual Fastcase 50 list, which honors top innovators in the legal field. Cameron Vann, senior staff attorney for the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program; Cisselon Nichols Hurd, senior counsel to Shell Oil; and T. Jason Smith, senior director and legal counsel to software company Apttus, received the honor alongside attorneys, professors, … Continue Reading
Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program Director Bree Buchanan was appointed chair of the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs. 2016-2017 American Bar Association President-elect Hilarie Bass appointed Buchanan to a one-year term beginning after the association’s Annual Meeting in August.… Continue Reading
