North Carolina Lawyers Assistance Program

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:

02/18/2026

The Overwhelmed Brain: As lawyers, we always assert our position, and we are quite sure we are right. We may indeed be. As we head into election season, however, it can be helpful to remember the value of our relationships and put our relationships above our own need to be right. Read more:https://nclap.org/sidebar/2024-3/overwhelmed.html

02/10/2026

Decision dilemmas arise when the “right” path isn’t immediately clear, and the stakes for making the “wrong” choice are high. As attorneys and judges, we regularly encounter decision dilemmas. Our legal training sharpens our ability to see all sides of an argument, which is a crucial skill in legal practice. However, our aptitude to hold competing viewpoints can turn into a burden when it leads to over-analysis and impedes committing to a single course of action. Read the article here: https://www.nclap.org/sidebar/2025-summer-sidebar/deconstructing-decision-dilemmas/

This Mindful Moment is also a featured podcast episode: Deconstructing Decision Dilemmas. Listen here: https://www.nclap.org/captivate-podcast/45-deconstructing-decision-dilemmas/

02/02/2026

Practice Perspective: This lawyer has found a simple and refreshing way to bring a little bit of joy into a stressful day. Read more: https://www.nclap.org/sidebar/2025-summer-sidebar/practice-perspective/

01/26/2026

Roadmap to Healing: We at the Lawyers Assistance Program write and talk about the fight/flight/freeze response in law practice all the time. As a result, many lawyers across the state have come to understand how we, as lawyers and judges, may struggle with compassion fatigue and secondary trauma from repeated exposure to client trauma. While many of us are exposed to the traumatic experiences of our clients, we don’t often think in terms of experiencing trauma first-hand, personally or professionally. Read more here:

We at the Lawyer Assistance Program write and talk about the fight/flight/freeze response in law practice all the time. As a result, many lawyers across the state have come to understand the ways in which we, as lawyers and judges, may struggle with compassion fatigue and secondary trauma from repea...

01/23/2026

Well-Being: LAP volunteers and clients use the strategies and suggestions identified below to maintain and prioritize their personal well-being. You can, too.

LAP volunteers and clients use the strategies and suggestions identified below to maintain and prioritize their personal well-being. You can, too.

01/13/2026

As a judge, as part of our daily job description, we are faced with some of the most difficult and important responsibilities and decisions one can encounter in life. When we were elected or appointed to the bench, no one could have prepared us for the cumulative emotional impact that often results from continual exposure to society’s greatest unresolved social problems. LAP has a cadre of judge volunteers, in recovery themselves, who understand the need for strict confidentiality. Click here:

Judges are exposed day-in-and-day-out to trauma at every level of society. Because of our visibility and role, it can be harder to reach out for assistance when we need it.

01/08/2026

Tuesday, January 13th 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM EST
Online via Zoom

Explore how law firms and legal organizations can build environments that actively protect employee well-being, prevent burnout, and address vicarious trauma at the organizational level.

Join to discover actionable strategies for transforming workplace culture and supporting the mental health of legal professionals from the ground up.



Register here:

01/08/2026

We each must find a way to practice law that does not emotionally demolish us in the process. The LAP provides support and assistance all along the way, and our volunteers share what has worked for them. Read more about Stress & Burnout here:

We each must find a way to practice law that does not emotionally demolish us in the process. The LAP provides support and assistance all along the way and our volunteers share what has worked for them.

01/07/2026

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...

12/30/2025

“When I first started attending LAP and Al-Anon meetings, I listened to other participants and thought, 'I’ll never tell those personal things about myself to anyone, and certainly not in a group!” For a while, as I listened to others, I very much related to their journeys. At some point, the desire to free myself of guilt, shame, and stigma overrode my natural reluctance to talk about myself and my problems to others. I didn’t feel pressured by the group to do so, but I did want what other people had – relief from the burden of silence.” Read more here:

By Reita Pendry The Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP), through its professional staff and a large network of volunteers, provides free confidential assistance to lawyers, judges, and law students in addressing substance abuse, mental health problems, and other stressors that may impair the ability to....