| THE ONTARIO LAWYERS’ ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
“ Personal & Confidential”
“IT” sat there, sometimes on the files on his right, sometimes on the credenza. Always in sight. An envelope with the Law Society logo and address in the upper left hand corner and marked “Personal & Confidential”. He was too afraid to open it. On the outside, he was calm. Inside, he was frantic with worry. He was not sleeping; his stomach was upset; he felt like he was drifting in slow motion through a dream world. Two weeks later, a second letter came. “Personal & Confidential”. If possible, his fears multiplied.
He had never believed in asking for help. He could handle the pressure; he solved problems, he did not have them. Maybe this would go away. By now, his anxiety and irritability were so intense that he had to take a few days off work. It did not help. When he came back to his office, the Ontario Lawyers' Assistance Program (OLAP) brochure seemed to leap out at him when he opened his desk drawer. He took a few more drinks and called.
A peer volunteer, Bill, talked to him that day. He helped the caller get in touch with a lawyer that he trusted to open the letters and deal with the issues. Bill kept in constant touch with the caller while the matter was handled and he got through it. He is now a peer volunteer.
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Legal Profession Assistance Conference (LPAC) |Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP) | Lawyers Assistance Program of British Columbia (BCLAP) | Nova Scotia Lawyers Assistance Program (NSLAP) | Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC) | The Lawyers Assistance Program (LINK) | The Alberta Lawyers Assistance Program | Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (Saskatchewan) | The Lawyers Professional Indemnity Company (LawPRO) | Law Practice Consulting |