Getting Help When You Need it

There comes a time in your practice when you need help. It may be legal help, it may be a question of what to do, it may be an ethical question or you may have a problem. And, by problem, I mean you may have a problem with drinking, drugs, or something else. What do you do? Here are some ideas.

• Have a mentor (see my prior post) that you can call. I asked my mentor a question just last week. He gave me a great answer!
• Use solosez. For those of you on solosez, you may get a quick, helpful response, especially to questions about what to do with a situation.
• Use another list. Our state and local TLAs have lists and I am comfortable asking questions and getting answers. While the answers may differ, it does give me some ideas from guys and women a lot wiser than me. (If you belong to an organization that does not have a listserve, you should talk to them about starting one.)
• Look at your state and local bar associations websites. The California Bar has a searchable area for ethics opinions. You can also get ethics opinions from some local bars, like LA County.
• Contact your Lawyer Assistance Program. The California Bar, and I assume other bars, have a confidential program for lawyers with drug, alcohol and mental illness problems. Do not be afraid to call them.
• Retain ethics counsel. Jerome Fishkin in San Francisco is great. Find someone in your state who can call in a pinch.
• Finally, check with LPM blogs like Jim Calloway or Carolyn Elefant or Allison Shields or any one of a number of great blogs that provide advice.

There is help out there when you need it. If all else fails, call or email. I will see if I can find a resource to help you.

------Jonathan