I and my law partner were brainstorming. Over lunch, I was talking to her about contacting the North Carolina Lawyer’s Assistance Program to find out what resources were offered for the “just overwhelmed” North Carolina lawyer. I had an appointment to talk to someone at the program and we started to think about what things this person would ultimately tell me were available to attorneys who reached out. But all the things we surmised that someone at NCLAP could help with were tools that were only introspective. Tools that would help the personal well-being of the attorney, not help the lawyer with the logistics of the practice or even how to navigate the practical aspects of the practice in tough times. We were thinking about concrete actions that would help an overwhelmed lawyer with their routine day when they were in that precarious state. What do I mean?

               We were wondering if NCLAP had any true interventions that didn’t have anything to do with the attorney getting psychological help in a safe space. Was there anything out there that would help the attorney with their court appearances? Could something make it easier for them to communicate with their clients? How about scheduling court appearances? Could someone help them run interference with particularly difficult opposing counsel? Heck, give them a pen in court when they reached into their briefcase and found they were out? What actual pragmatic tools were out there for the overwhelmed lawyer to employ that would actually HELP them with their practice while they went through whatever they were going through? Because isn’t that what some of us just need during those overwhelming times? Sometimes we just need opposing counsel to not be a dick all the time. Sometimes we just need for a judge to give us a moment with our client and stop bothering us about hurrying up. Sometimes we just need the clerks to do what clerks do and file our shit without challenging us about what it is. Sometimes you just need that kind of respite from the ills of the practice. But does that kind of help exist? Or is that just a fool’s errand to even think that we should GET that type of help when we are just a little overwhelmed? I think what I am talking about legislating or purposely providing is what used to be known as a common courtesy; what we all just used to get when our colleagues or the system knew that we were going through a tough time for one reason or another. And that tough time doesn’t have to be this truncated long-winded spell. It can just be a short period where you got some difficult news, or others know that you are just having a tough go of it that week. Does that type of help exist?

            Ultimately, I did learn that NCLAP does have some resources out there for the just overwhelmed lawyer. Not only can you get referrals for counseling and be connected directly with a licensed therapist, but NCLAP offers support groups for attorneys who just want to talk and vibe in a safe space about being an attorney. You are required to do an intake with a LAP counselor prior to being “referred” to a support group, but I was impressed that that option was out there for attorneys. Of course, confidentiality is required to be able to share in such a safe space, but I am intrigued by this option and impressed that NCLAP makes this available to North Carolina lawyers.

              But, I am still interested in knowing what other types of “help” the just a bit overwhelmed attorney can access save for ringing in their secured leave for two weeks. I don’t know, but I am going to try and find out.