North Carolina Lawyers Assistance Program

04/21/2026

In law, it can be tempting to say yes to every client request, colleague expectation, or organizational demand. Without limits, however, burnout is the likely price. How do you know that you are close to reaching your limit before you actually reach it? Listen to the podcast episode, “Setting Limits”: https://www.nclap.org/podcast/46-setting-limits/

Read full article: https://www.nclap.org/sidebar/2025-fall-sidebar/mindful-moment/

In law, it can be tempting to say yes to every client request, colleague expectation, or organizational demand. Without limits, however, burnout is the likely price to be paid for overextending mentally, emotionally, or physically. Limits are a way of setting a boundary to protect energy, cultivate....

04/13/2026

According to the research, theoretically at least, imposter syndrome is usually more prevalent in the earlier years of law practice and tends to diminish with time as one gains confidence and skill in one’s legal practice. We have found, however, with the lawyers we work with, that the feeling of imposter syndrome does not gradually go away with time in the field but persists unless outright addressed with some sort of support or action. Read more here:

Think everybody else has figured out a special something that you have yet to discover? They haven’t. Worried secretly that you are, at best, deficient, at worst, a fraud that has no business practicing law, sitting on the bench, or holding your current position? You aren’t. And you are not alon...

04/06/2026

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

This attorney began waiting for the other shoe to drop at a young age – and for good reason. Freed from the merciless grip of fear and feelings of impending doom, using new tools he learned in recovery, his life has transformed from surviving to thriving. Read more: https://www.nclap.org/sidebar/2025-fall-sidebar/the-waiting-is-the-hardest-part/

03/30/2026

Once upon a time, 40+ years ago, a lawyer made a mistake on a legal matter and had a big “Oh no!” moment. He thought about the mistake from every angle for days. He could not figure out how to fix it. He was in a panic and consumed with shame. He ruminated; he speculated; he predicted that he would be a laughingstock in his small-town legal community. He concluded the only rational course of action was su***de. Fortunately, he was a LAP client at the time. He told his LAP mentor about the mistake he had made. His LAP mentor said, “That’s what you have liability insurance for – for when you make a mistake.” Read the article here:

By Robynn Moraites, Cathy Killian, Nicki Ellington and Candace Hoffman Once upon a time, 40+ years ago, a lawyer made a mistake on a legal matter and had a big “Oh no!” moment. He thought about the mistake from every angle for days. He could not figure out how to fix it. He was in […]

03/26/2026

LAP has a network of lawyer volunteers throughout the state who have recovered from these very same issues and who assist lawyers who are just beginning their own journeys of recovery. These LAP volunteers attend lawyer peer discussion support groups that meet throughout the state. Many volunteers and clients report that peer support is one of the most important tools for a lawyer who is struggling with any issue. Just knowing you are not alone and that others have struggled with the same issue and emerged stronger on the other side can offer meaning and a renewed sense of hope as one begins the journey of recovery. Nclap.org

03/26/2026

Get in Touch: Ready to get started or simply have some questions? Reach out to the LAP Counselor who covers your area. Office hours are M-F (9:00-5:00) and in-person consultations are by appointment only. All communications with LAP staff are strictly confidential. Contact us here:

NC Lap Foundation has offices in Charlotte and Raleigh NC. Office hours are M-F (9:00-5:00) and in-person consultations are by appointment only.

03/17/2026

Practice Perspective: Playing the tape all the way through, this lawyer reflects on the change recovery has brought to his reactions in day-to-day law practice. Read more:

When a judge rules against me, even though they “ought to” have ruled for my client, I can pause and collect myself. If I pause.

03/17/2026

Mindful Moment: On any given day, dealing with a pressing matter may win out over a personal wellness routine. As lawyers and judges, we are trained to think in terms of urgency, risk, and responsibility—frameworks that naturally push less urgent personal health needs to the margins. The good news is that your physical well-being can be supported by small, consistent practices that are achievable even amid demanding caseloads and court schedules. Read more: https://www.nclap.org/sidebar/2026-winter-sidebar/mindful-moment/

This Mindful Moment is also a featured podcast episode: Check IN Before Your Next Check UP. Listen here: https://www.nclap.org/podcast/47-check-in-before-your-next-check-up/

On any given day, dealing with a pressing matter may win out over a personal wellness routine. As lawyers and judges, we are trained to think in terms o...

03/09/2026

Rumination as a Contributor to Burnout: For years, burnout was described as the inevitable cost of overwork: too many hours, too many demands, too little rest. But a growing body of psychological research suggests another powerful contributor quietly intensifies the damage: mental rumination. Read more:

For years, burnout was described as the inevitable cost of overwork: too many hours, too many demands, too little rest. But a growing body of psychological

03/02/2026

The Addicted Mind: Why Smart Professionals Lose Control

Tuesday, March 10th | 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST

Online via Zoom Presented by Dr. Jungjin Kim, MD

Join Mass LCL for an important webinar as part of their Stomp Out Stigma Campaign. Dr. Kim explores why addiction affects professionals across all fields, regardless of intelligence or success. Learn the neuroscience behind addiction, recognize warning signs, and understand how to support those affected.

Register now to join:

02/25/2026

The competitive nature of law, the stress and fatigue from working too many hours, and the lack of balance in personal and professional life, combined with having to work with difficult clients and colleagues in an adversarial system makes lawyers very prone to anger management issues. The intensity of that anger can quickly escalate from a fleeting annoyance to an uncontrollable, destructive rage, making us feel as though we are at the mercy of a very powerful and unpredictable emotional force. While we may not be able to avoid or change the people and situations that make us angry, we can learn to control our reactions. Read more here:

The Roman poet Horace said, “Lawyers are men who hire out their words and their anger.” Unchecked anger, however, makes us less effective as advocates and can be a symptom of deeper issues.

02/24/2026

50 Lessons for Happy Lawyers: In this podcast episode, we interview Nora Rivas, co-author of the 50 Lessons book series. The lessons in the book provide a jumping-off point for deeper study; each aligns with our well-being mission at NC LAP. Ms. Rivas is a consultant in the well-being space. She offers coaching, CLE, and law firm consulting. Listen here: