Confidential Support for Attorneys, Judges, and Law Students

Discreet Assistance, Guidance, and Resources: A Trusted Lifeline for Tennessee’s Legal Community.

Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program

The Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (“TLAP”) was established by order of the Tennessee Supreme Court (the “Court”) in 1999. The mission and general structure of TLAP are set forth in Rule 33 of the Tennessee Supreme Court Rules.

TLAP is a confidential, professionals’ program serving lawyers, judges, bar applicants, and law students who suffer from physical or mental disabilities that result from disease, disorder, trauma or age and that impair their ability to practice or serve. Many of those who seek assistance from TLAP are struggling with substance use issues, stress, or emotional health issues. TLAP’s professional clinical staff provides direct crisis counseling, consultations, interventions, referrals to appropriate assessments, diagnostic and treatment providers, and comprehensive TLAP Monitoring that supports long-term recovery and fitness to practice law. TLAP’s direct support services are unlimited and always rendered at no cost. In the event that services such as assessments, treatment, or drug screening by a third-party provider are clinically indicated, TLAP assists the client in efforts to obtain the financial support necessary to access the needed services. The TLAP Foundation is a non-profit corporation created independently from TLAP with a mission to provide financial support to TLAP clients in need. The TLAP Foundation may be a source of financial assistance for services. TLAP’s services are results-driven and highly specialized to meet the specific needs of legal professionals, and generate exceptional rates of recovery without relapse. This not only helps the individual but also helps protect the public and the profession from the damage that impaired professionals can cause. TLAP’s assistance and early intervention is key and often prevents future ethical violations, thereby reducing the number of disciplinary complaints. If you or someone you know needs assistance, reach out today! Your call to TLAP is free and is absolutely confidential!

TLAP services address a range of health and personal issues, such as:

Depression and Suicidality

Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among lawyers. Reasons include a number of unique characteristics and circumstances experienced by lawyers: a persistent high level of stress, a pessimistic outlook developed through law school and practice, long hours and isolation of daily work, perfectionism and low tolerance for failure or “losing face,” the high stakes nature of our work, and a reluctance to ask for help.

Research shows that the great majority of those who attempt suicide give some warning signs, verbal or behavior, of their intent to kill themselves in the final weeks leading up to the act. The more warning signs, the greater the risk.

Anxiety

Generalized anxiety disorder (or GAD) is characterized by excessive, exaggerated anxiety and worry about everyday life events with no obvious reasons for worry. People with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder tend to always expect disaster and can’t stop worrying about health, money, family, work, or school. In people with GAD, the worry often is unrealistic or out of proportion for the situation. Daily life becomes a constant state of worry, fear, and dread. Eventually, the anxiety so dominates the person’s thinking that it interferes with daily functioning, including work, school, social activities, and relationships.

Substance Use Disorders

Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse in Executives and Professionals

General:

Appears intoxicated or hung over
Deterioration of physical appearance and grooming
Shakiness, tremulousness
Unpredictability, strange behavior, inappropriate behavior
Withdrawal from responsibility
General changes in overall attitude
Overwhelmed easily, unable to manage emotions, emotional outbursts, overreacts
Aggressiveness or becomes withdrawn
And more

Learn more here!

Process Addictions(gambling and sex)

This page will help you determine if your gambling, sex, and internet behaviors qualify as problems or addictions, as well as provide links to other resources which could help you overcome and process your addiction.

Learn more here!

Trauma Recovery

Grief and Loss

Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering you feel when something or someone you love is taken away. You may associate grief with the death of a loved one — and this type of loss does often cause the most intense grief. But any loss can cause grief, including:

A relationship breakup
Loss of health
Losing a job
Loss of financial stability
A miscarriage
And more

Learn more here!

Stress and Burnout

Burnout has been called a “romantic disorder” because it is characteristic of a work ethic admired in the legal culture. Long hours and a selfless dedication to work – to the exclusion of self-care – can lead to burnout. In a North Carolina bar survey, 36 percent of judges and lawyers surveyed had not taken even a one-week vacation in the previous year. Learning how to manage stress and improve self-care is critical to preventing burnout. This, in turn, can help minimize the effects of depression.

Learn more here!

Cognitive Impairment

A cognitive impairment can be related to a mental disorder, such as depression or schizophrenia. Although cognitive impairment causes cognitive changes that are serious enough to be noticed by the individuals experiencing them or to other people, the changes are not severe enough to interfere with daily life or independent function. Cognitive problems may remain subtle, often can be treated successfully with medication and therapy, and may improve over time.

Learn more here!

Did you know?

18% of lawyers suffer from alcoholism and addiction.

33% of lawyers suffer from significant mental health issues.

70% of lawyers suffer from stress related issues.

All calls are confidential and free

When you call TLAP, you can be sure that complete confidentiality will be maintained. The Tennessee Supreme Court has established TLAP as an approved impaired lawyers program pursuant to a Rule 33 of the Rules of The Supreme Court of Tennessee. By virtue of said rule, all communications with TLAP are confidential and members of TLAP are relieved of their duty to report ethical violations discovered as a result of their TLAP work. This means that any misconduct or ethical violation discovered or revealed to a member of TLAP will not be reported to any disciplinary board. Additionally, communications with TLAP are privileged and confidential. See: T.C.A. Sec. 23-4-104 and T.C.A. Sec. 23-4-105.

Call today

It’s confidential and free.

(615) 741-3238

Operating Hours
Mon-Fri
8am-4:30pm
Lunch Break
12-1pm

Our Testimonials

In a moment of true crisis, TLAP opened its doors and its arms to me and my girlfriend, providing helpful advice and a kind sounding board. TLAP’s warmth in that moment showed me that it is there for all lawyers in any number of ways we might need assistance.

Anonymous, Law Student

For my part TLAP has serve to bridge the gap between stewardship of a profession for the public good and recovery of individual professionals. Such could not be possible without caring, knowledgeable staff and volunteers having a genuine understanding of the challenges involved with both.

Volunteer, Judge

They helped provide me with a rational perspective and to see hope (which had been invisible) and to know that there are others who know the same dark places of the soul and who can encourage one on the worthiness of survival.

Participant, Attorney

I have had the privilege of having the positive influence of the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program in my life and that of my family for some time now. At all points during my struggle, I have been able to count on the staff at TLAP, who are always only a phone call away. Caring, loving support and gentle accountability are words that come to mind as I look back on my interaction with the program. In times of difficulty and pain, it has been a great comfort to know that there were people who understood and were willing to help. In the legal profession, as with any profession, there will be those who are unable to ask for help, whose struggles remain unknown, and I was personally acquainted with one who recently lost the battle. However, this network of staff and volunteers is the strongest link we have in the legal profession in Tennessee for sharing experience, strength and hope with those who need it.

Volunteer, Attorney

I got involved with TLAP when I was in a crisis last year. I did not know where to turn for help, when a friend suggested I call TLAP. Feeling desperate, I contacted TLAP. As a result I got confidential, nonjudgmental advice and suggestions of places where I could get the kind of on-going help I needed. I now feel like I can manage my life better. I have a support system that includes TLAP contacts that I can use if I need help. I live my life again with hope.

Anonymous, Attorney

Although it might seem a bit melodramatic, I think that it is an accurate statement to say that if the people at TLAP had not been there when I needed them a year and a half ago, I would not be here today. I was deep in my alcoholism, suicidal, and at my bottom. My friends at TLAP have provided me with the hope, encouragement, structure and support that has allowed me to recover and once again become a useful and constructive member of our society.

Anonymous, Attorney