Nov. 15, 2023 – The Wisconsin Lawyer Assistance Program (WisLAP) offered its annual peer support volunteer training Oct. 12 and 13 in Madison, with 27 volunteers from across Wisconsin and two other states attending.

The annual training allows volunteers to develop or refine the skills helpful in offering support to colleagues facing a range of challenges. Both new and returning volunteers actively participated in the event, which integrated didactic education on mental health, self-care, and resilience with workshop style opportunities to practice offering support using the skills emphasized by a slate of speakers.

Prior to their arrival, peer support trainees shared their motivations for volunteering their time to prepare to support colleagues dealing with difficult situations. Some of the reasons they attended included:

• “The profession is very isolating, and people often don’t know where to turn for help. Or, if they do, they are afraid of negative repercussions. I would like to be part of making the legal profession healthier for lawyers.”

• “I received support from WisLAP when I was in law school after experiencing trauma.”

• “I am a huge proponent and am extremely interested in promoting lawyer well-being in the State of Wisconsin.”

After a warm welcome by State Bar of Wisconsin Executive Director Larry J. Martin, WisLAP Member Coordinator Amber Elaine Gilles oriented participants to the history of Lawyer Assistance Programs in the U.S., focusing on the Wisconsin program’s history, development, and current goals.

In her presentation, “Who We Are, What We Do, and How You Make the Magic Happen,” she highlighted the supportive role played by peer support volunteers across all of the concerns that attorney colleagues may experience.

Strategies for Peer Support

Over the following day and a half, participants appreciated both educational presentations and opportunities to practice the peer support skills highlighted by the training, which ranged from building rapport and trust, asking curious, open-ended questions to help colleagues explore their concerns in supportive interaction, and getting comfortable with one’s own challenging emotions when hearing about distressing situations.

Attorney Julie Spoke from the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) offered an engaging and informative presentation on “Resilience and Self-Care” aimed at helping volunteers become better resourced as they support others and reminding them of strategies and skills they may share with others while volunteering.

Other presenters included Dr. Amber Ault, the new manager of the WisLAP program, Sharon Rapnicki, a Certified Peer Support Specialist from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Department of Justice Educational Consultant Shelly Sandry, and Attorneys Matthew Shin, Natalie Gerloff, and Theresa Wetzsteon.

Common themes emerged, including the need to reduce shame and stigma for professionals in need of support and the need to recognize that lawyering exposes many practitioners to stress, trauma, and elevated risk for burnout. The presentations also reinforced the importance of providing attorneys with resources, community, and hope.

Staff-generated training scenarios allowed small groups of volunteers to practice supporting colleagues. Scenarios included hypothetical examples of lawyers facing serious health diagnoses, navigating the challenge of providing elder care and child rearing simultaneously while practicing.

They addressed concerns about age-related cognitive changes, increasing alcohol consumption for stress reduction, coping with isolation, racism, sexism, and homophobia in workplaces. They also discussed managing complex and stressful cases, struggling with relationship conflicts affecting their work, and facing fears about situations in law school.

Trainees embraced the opportunity to practice with each other, reflecting on both the role of a person seeking support and a person providing it.

In evaluations of the training, participants expressed gratitude for each of the event’s informational presentations. They appreciated the opportunity to practice responding to colleagues facing the difficult situations that often inspire attorneys and judges to contact WisLAP for peer support, and expressed feelings of growing confidence in their roles as peer supports.

At present, 100 attorney volunteers are available to provide support to members of the legal profession. The 2023 fall WisLAP Peer Support Training offered volunteers opportunities to connect with each other, train together, elevate their peer support skills, and reinvigorate their passion for serving the legal profession by supporting colleagues through WisLAP.