Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman will be the keynote speaker for two downstate luncheon meetings that have been scheduled by the Lawyers' Assistance Program.

They will take place from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, at The Inn at 835, Springfield, and Friday, May 12, at Biaggi's Ristorante, Champaign.

The complimentary programs are de--signed to raise awareness of LAP programs and services that help lawyers, judges and law students, and their families, when alcohol abuse, drug dependency or mental health issues impair performance.

LAP provides education, information, referrals, peer assistance and interventions with strict confidentiality. Whenever possible, problems are addressed before they jeopardize professional careers or legal education op---portunities.

Although there is no charge to attend the luncheons, reservations must be made in advance by calling LAP associate director Joseph A. Bartylak at (618) 462-4397 or 791-3160.

Additional luncheons will be scheduled later this spring and early summer in Carbondale, Peoria, Quincy and Rockford. A similar program in Collinsville last November was attended by 50 people.

For more information about LAP or its future programs, contact executive director Janet Piper Voss at (312) 726-6607 or jpvoss@illinoislap.org, or access the Web site, www.illinoislap.org.