Justice Garman to address volunteers at LAP training

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman will be keynote speaker for the Lawyers’ Assistance Program volunteer training on Thursday, June 11, in Springfield.

The training will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the third floor conference room of the National City Bank Building, Fifth and Washington.

After the registration period and continental breakfast, the program will begin at 9 a.m. with welcoming remarks by LAP President James J. Faught, associate dean of the Loyola University School of Law.

LAP executive director Janet Piper Voss will provide an overview of the role of LAP in providing confidential help to legal professionals with addictions and mental health problems.

The goal of LAP is to address problems before they jeopardize the careers of lawyers, judges or law students. Participants in the training will learn how to identify problems early and to discover tools for handling them effectively.

An illustrative video at 9:30 a.m. will precede a 9:45 a.m. discussion of alcohol and drug dependencies. At 11 a.m., the topics are family dynamics and denial. The morning speaker is Carl Anderson, program director for Resurrection Behavioral Health.

The 12 noon luncheon includes remarks by Justice Garman on the importance of volunteers to the LAP mission.

Afternoon sessions include helping impaired lawyers through intervention, at 1 p.m., with Anderson and LAP volunteer Daniel Welter, a former board member.

Understanding mental health, at 1:30 p.m., will be reviewed by Susan Riegler, LAP clinical director.

A presentation on peer assistance at 2:45 p.m. and a role-play demonstration of peer support techniques from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. will be made by the previous speakers. A summary of the discussions will conclude the program.

There is no charge to attend the volunteer training. Due to space limitations, however, reservations must be made by calling (312) 726-6607 or (800) LAP-1233.