Welcome
About the Lawyer Assistance Trust
PLEASE NOTE: As a result of the 2011 New York State Budget process, as of May 2011, the New York Lawyer Assistance Trust has been "de-funded," while the Unified Court System manages the cutback in funding that it must administer. As a result, the NYLAT Grant Program has been suspended, since funding is not available. The entire program has been placed on hiatus status, with the anticipation that it may be "re-funded" in a future budgeting cycle.
In the meantime, the New York State Bar Association's Lawyer Assistance Program will oversee the management of this website, which has a wealth of information. The Lawyer Assistance Programs sponsored by the New York State Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association and the Nassau County Bar Association remain in place, providing services. Please click on the Contact Information for these programs as well as for the 20+ Lawyer Helping Lawyer Committees throughout New York State.
As you may know, the New York State Court of Appeals created the Lawyer Assistance Trust in 2001 to provide statewide leadership and financial assistance to programs for the treatment and prevention of alcohol and substance dependency among lawyers, judges and law students in New York State. In 2006, that mission was expanded to include addressing mental health concerns among members of the profession.
Our Grant Program, a unique feature of the Trust, offers financial
support to Bar Associations and foundations and law schools
seeking to develop new programs or enhance existing programs
of education and prevention, outreach and service. Eligible
applicants are invited to submit their applications online. Since its inception, and until March 2011, the Trust awarded more than $1.381,550 in grants to support enhanced LAP services, CLE programs related to LAP subjects, and a variety of outreach efforts.
The latest enhancement to the site is the addition of the video of Dave P. describing the History of the Lawyer Assistance Movement, nationally and in New York, which remarks were delivered in January 2011, at the launch of the observation of the 10th Anniversary of the creation of the Trust. Another new video is a project supported by NYLAT grant funding, entitled "A Terrible Melancholy: Depression in the Legal Profession," produced by Buffalo attorney Daniel Lukasik.
The Trust organized several projects to enhance understanding of the subject at law schools, including our conference "Meeting Our Responsibilities: Substance Abuse and Law Schools", an examination of the role of law schools in addressing alcohol and substance abuse in the legal profession. You can view streaming video of portions of the speakers' remarks at the "events" tab, along with text. We have facilitated meetings with law school administrators and LAP Directors and volunteers, particularly with the goal of supporting newly-appointed student LAP representatives. The "Course in a Box", a curriculum module for use in law school, has been distributed and included in a "Tool Kit" for law school administrators prepared by the American Bar Association. A brochure which describes the Character and Fitness process for bar applicants, prepared with the intent of de-mystifying what information must be reported and what impact it may have, gives law students the information they need to recognize that having sought treatment for alcohol or substance abuse or mental health concerns, or being in the status of a recovering alcoholic or addict, are not grounds for denial of admission to the bar. Our latest law student brochure explains the availability of LAP services.
This site also makes information about available lawyer assistance services throughout the State very easy to find-check out our resources tab. You may read our latest Annual Report and the newsletters under the publications tab. A bibliography of books, articles and reports, prepared by the ABA's Commission on Lawyer Assistance Program's Law School Outreach Committee now appears under the "Resources" tab at "related links": check it out! Last, but not least, we have an enhanced calendar of events and the start of a listing of "lawyers only" AA meeting around the State, under "Events."
We welcome you to browse our site and
learn how the Trust -- and the organized bar -- are addressing
the pressing aspects of the problems of alcohol and substance
dependency in the profession. With information, outreach,
affirmative programs, and financial support, we are making
a difference.
Barbara F. Smith, Executive Director