The Wisconsin Lawyers Assistance Program (WisLAP), a program of the State Bar of Wisconsin, seeks a masters-level clinician as its new Program Coordinator. WisLAP provides mental health and wellness services to the state's 25,000 lawyers.
- We respond to attorneys struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, and alcohol and substance struggles by providing crisis response (mostly by phone), short-term interventions, and referrals.
- We provide wellness education, training, and support to lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals.
- WisLAP provides state-mandated monitoring of sobriety and stability to support lawyers who are battling alcohol or drug use.
We provide our services with the support of a network of WisLAP trained peer support lawyers. The Member Coordinator will provide direct services (crisis, consultation, referral) to lawyers seeking help, coordinate the monitoring program, and be central to the training and coordination of peer supports. We hope you'll consider joining us in the important work of supporting attorneys as they do the challenging, stressful, and important work of lawyering.
Who We Are
The State Bar of Wisconsin is a professional association, created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, for all attorneys who hold a Wisconsin law license. With more than 25,000 members, the State Bar exists to serve its members and the public by promoting the law and access to justice. We aid the courts in improving the administration of justice, provide continuing legal education and other services for our members, support the education of law students, and educate the public about the legal system. The State Bar of Wisconsin also provides public services -- such as attorney referrals and public education – and supports programs that provide reduced-fee legal assistance for low-income state residents.
What You Will Love
- The people, the culture and a hybrid work environment! We care about our people, our work, and our members. We value work/life balance and offer excellent benefits and flexibility to support our employees and their families. This position is eligible to work from home 3 days per week while working in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
- Working with a mission-driven organization that acts with integrity, promotes justice, and addresses systemic racism and implicit bias in the legal system.
- Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the attorneys through out the state and working with passionate volunteers who are committed to helping other Wisconsin attorneys.
What You Will Do
- Support all aspects of the lawyer monitoring program to ensure timely and accurate intake, case management, follow up, coordination of services and reporting. Determine requirements for people in monitoring, including recurring substance testing, ongoing therapy or recovery participation, and ongoing involvement with WisLAP and community supports.
- Respond to calls for support and mental health and substance abuse assistance from law students, lawyers, judges, and others concerned about legal professionals. Provide competent and caring crisis response, including consultations, referrals, short-term interventions, and follow-up.
- Manage the Volunteer Peer Support Program by coordinating a network of lawyers who volunteer to offer peer support to colleagues in need, serve as local contacts for those seeking LAP assistance, and serve as recovery mentors.
- Participate in the planning and creation of volunteer trainings, including outreach to speakers, finding venues, creating marketing plans, and corresponding with volunteers.
- Provide culturally proficient and responsive services to clients of the WisLAP program.
What We Are Looking For
- Master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or related field.
- A minimum of three years' experience working in the field of addictions and mental health with a focus on assessment, referral, information, support, intervention, and case management.
- Thorough understanding of the recovery process as it applies to substance use disorders and process addictions.
- Experience in or training for crisis intervention, mental health telephone work, suicide risk assessment, or related areas.
- Experience teaching, designing and delivering workshops or presentations, or willingness to become comfortable doing so.
- Strong organizational skills, particularly related to record keeping.
- Culturally proficient and responsive. Experience, education, lived experience, self-awareness and ongoing commitment to understand social identities and integrate them into the communication, assessment and treatment of clients.
- Experience working with clients who are professionals; ability to establish warm and mutually respectful relationships with lawyers.
- Ability to travel within the state up to 15% and scheduling flexibility.
- Preferred: Current independent license in the state of Wisconsin as a psychologist, social worker, mental health counselor or family/marriage therapist or eligibility to obtain this within 12 months of hire.
- Preferred: JD or experience working in the legal profession (lawyer, paralegal, etc.)
Compensation and Benefits
A competitive salary plus excellent benefits including:
- 3 weeks of paid vacation per year
- 2 weeks of paid sick time per year
- Excellent and low-cost health and dental insurance
- Fully paid life and long-term disability insurance
- 10 paid holidays plus 2 personal days
- Volunteer time-off
- Hybrid work schedules and flexibility
- 8% 401(k) employer contribution!!
- The State Bar is also a “qualified employer" for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
How To Apply
To apply, go to www.wisbar.org/careers and upload your resume and cover letter, including salary expectations. Cover letters aren't required but are highly encouraged. They give us a small sense of who you are and what's important to you. This position will be posted until it is filled, but the initial screening of resumes will occur on Monday, May 6th and first interviews will occur later that week.
The State Bar of Wisconsin is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and seeks to create a supportive, welcoming environment for all. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds,
not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it also makes us stronger.
Candidates who share these values and reflect the rich diversity of our community
are encouraged to apply.
