Lawyer Assistance Committee (LAC) members, LAC volunteers, and LAP staff regularly present programs to educate D.C. Bar members, judges and students about wellness, addiction and mental health symptoms, outline the confidential services of the LAP, and allow volunteers to share their experiences with past problems and how they overcame them. Some of those programs are recorded and made available for the benefit of the D.C. Bar community.
Upcoming Programs
January 28, 2025 – An Honest Conversation About Harnessing Embodied Practices for the Year Ahead
Join the D.C. Bar Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) on Tuesday, January 28, at 2 p.m. for an interactive session on how embodied practices—such as breathwork, movement, and mindfulness—can calm the nervous system, release tension, and build resilience.
These practices enhance your ability to stay focused and effective in high-pressure environments while upholding the standards of law practice in challenging circumstances.
Through guided exercises and expert insights, you’ll learn:
- Breathing techniques to activate the body's natural relaxation response.
- Mindfulness practices to release tension and ground the body.
- Tips for integrating these practices into daily routines to build long-term resilience.
No prior experience is required—just a willingness to explore how the body can be a tool for emotional regulation and mental well-being.
Past Events
An Honest Conversation About Disconnecting and Reclaiming Your Time
Are you feeling overburdened by the demands of your legal career? You’re not alone. In a recent study by Bloomberg Law, 45% of attorneys reported an inability to disconnect from work.
During this session held on November, 19, 2024, we explored:
- The consequences of constant engagement with work, including burnout, decreased productivity, and strained relationships.
- How these factors can affect your ability to maintain professional standards.
- Practical tools to help you disconnect—mentally, emotionally, and physically—while improving your work-life balance.
Together, we learned how to reclaim our time and improve our well-being while still meeting the demands of a successful legal career.
An Honest Conversation About Anxiety: Friend or Foe?
It is natural to experience moments of worry, fear, or unease in times like these. Living with constant anxiety, however, is neither inevitable nor sustainable. Whether our worries are due to work, school, social expectations, or concerns about the world around us, they end up making life feel harder. Please join the LAP on Tuesday, September 17, at 2:00PM for an insightful conversation about understanding anxiety—recognizing when it serves us and when it holds us back. Together, we'll explore effective ways to diminish its impact and enhance our well-being.
An Honest Conversation about Alcohol: Navigating Holidays and Celebrations
The holiday season is often intertwined with alcohol use; in fact, studies show an increase in binge drinking. For some, the holidays can mean stressful family gatherings, loneliness and isolation, or strain caused by financial and economic difficulties. For others, it might be a time of celebration and frequent social gatherings. It can be challenging for someone in recovery or striving to moderate their alcohol use. Whatever your experience during, join the Lawyer Assistance Program for a conversation on navigating this time of year.
Building Fences, Not Walls 2.0: Next Level Conversation on Boundaries
This program, part of our “Honest Conversation” series, continues the conversation on boundaries, what they are, why they are important, and how to start the process of setting them.
Boundary Threat Assessment
Boundaries Handout
Healthy Boundaries Look and Sound Like…
An Honest Conversation About What Perfectionism is Costing You (March 2023)
This program, part of our “Honest Conversation” series, explores perfectionism versus striving for excellence - where does one end and the other begin?
It’s a New Year but Nothing is New: An Honest Conversation About How to Get Unstuck (January 2023)
Almost three years ago, the whole world ground to a halt. Even though things have shifted and begun to open up, some of us are understandably still feeling stuck. We may still struggle with motivation, have difficulty focusing, or experience feelings of emptiness or numbness. While we may have a desire for change, we are struggling in what feels like a three-year-old rut. If this resonates, please view this conversation on how to shift from stagnation to action as we begin the new year.
An Honest Conversation About Grief: Life is Messy, So Is Loss (November 2022)
Grief is an uncomfortable conversation and a necessary one. During this honest conversation, we will explore what grief looks like, the various ways people grieve, the different types of losses beyond death, and ideas for how to support those grieving.
Thriving Not Just Surviving: Boundary Setting In Practice (October 2022)
This presentation was produced as a Lunch and Learn seminar for the D.C. Bar Practice Management Advisory Service. It explores why, when, and how to set firm, clear boundaries to help you take care of yourself, find a sense of control, and enhance your emotional well-being.
Building Fences, Not Walls: A Conversation on Boundaries (July 2022)
This program explores why, when, and how to set firm, clear boundaries to help you take care of yourself, find a sense of control, and enhance your emotional well-being during this tumultuous time.
Boundaries Assessment – What are Personal Boundaries – Tips for Healthy Boundaries
Stress, Drink, Leave: An Examination of Gender-Specific Risk Factors for Mental Health Problems and Attrition Among Licensed Attorneys (May 2021)
In 2020, the California Lawyers Association and D.C. Bar participated in a first of its kind research project aimed at uncovering personal and workplace risk factors for mental health and substance use problems among practicing attorneys. In this presentation attorney mental health and well-being expert Patrick Krill and his study co-author, Dr. Justin Anker, provided a revealing look at what they found related to mental health, drinking, stress, attrition intentions, and gender disparities associated with each. Learn More
Building Resilience During Challenging Times (January 2021)
This program was produced as a Lunch and Learn seminar for the D.C. Bar Practice Management Advisory Service. During this program participants learned evidence-based practices for building resilience to cope with adversity, adapt to change, and overcome challenges.
