Sept. 2, 2026 — Interested in helping your colleagues in a substantial way?

The State Bar of Wisconsin's Wisconsin Lawyers Assistance Program (WisLAP) needs both peer support volunteers and peer monitor volunteers. We encourage all interested lawyers and judges to consider serving in one or both of these important roles.

Each year, WisLAP provides training to attorneys interested in volunteering. WisLAP is currently accepting interest forms from lawyers and judges for WisLAP’s Oct. 23, 2026, training, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the State Bar Center in Madison.

WisLAP welcomes those who are interested to complete the volunteer interest form by Oct. 1, 2026.

What Do WisLAP Peer Support Volunteers Do?

Peer support volunteers provide support, guidance, and understanding to fellow lawyers in Wisconsin on various topics, including work-life balance, stress, work politics, substance use, and much more. By sharing their own lived experiences and understanding, peer support volunteers support the well-being of their peers, give back to their community, and cultivate a supportive legal culture in Wisconsin.

Volunteers work with WisLAP staff regularly and collaboratively to ensure each attorney or judge receives the assistance they need to maintain their license, practice ethically, and thrive while lawyering. Most peer support volunteers spend three hours or less each month supporting other attorneys.

What Do WisLAP Volunteer Monitors Do?

In addition to providing general mental health and wellness consultation, coaching, support and education to Wisconsin lawyers, WisLAP supports lawyers who enter the profession with conditional admission status through the Board of Bar Examiners or who enter a supportive diversion agreement with the Office of Lawyer Regulation.

WisLAP matches monitoring program participants with lawyer volunteers trained to support and guide their colleagues. Volunteer Monitors are vital because they understand the experience of law school and the professional roles of lawyers and judges.

While WisLAP staff offers mental health support from trained clinicians, our volunteer monitors act as an additional layer of support by offering mentorship, advice, and resources from the perspective of a colleague.

A volunteer monitor must meet with their program participant once per month for about 30–60 minutes in a forum that works for both parties. Volunteer monitors must be prepared and willing to commit to their role so they can be paired with participants for the entirety of their time in the monitoring program, which typically spans from one to three years.

Over the course of their volunteer commitment, monitors will provide regular updates on the lawyer they are supporting to the WisLAP staff via brief monthly reports. Volunteer monitors should expect to commit to 1–2 hours per month.

This Year’s WisLAP Training is Oct. 23: Respond by Oct. 1

Lawyers and judges in good standing may express interest in serving as peer support volunteers, peer monitors, or both. The first step in the process is to complete the interest form by Oct. 1, 2026. The program will be submitted to the Board of Bar Examiners for LAU credits.

Whether you are taking on a volunteer role for the first time or returning to support your peers, the session will cover everything you need to feel confident and prepared:

• WisLAP & Role Overview: Discover how our program supports legal professionals across the state and what it entails to serve as a peer support and peer monitor.

• Volunteer Panel: Hear firsthand insights and real-world experiences from current WisLAP volunteers.

• Mental Health Insights: Explore the most common mental health challenges facing today's lawyers.

• Active Practice: Build your skills through experiential, scenario-based exercises in reflective listening, motivational interviewing, and navigating our strict confidentiality protocols.

Questions? Please contact:

Cara Lamusga, MSW
WisLAP Member Coordinator
clamusga@wisbar.org

What is WisLAP?

The State Bar of Wisconsin's Wisconsin Lawyers Assistance Program (WisLAP) offers confidential support, consultations, and education related to mental health and wellness for lawyers. WisLAP aims to develop a culture within the Wisconsin legal community that fosters work-life balance and destigmatizes mental illness and substance use disorders.

WisLAP needs volunteers – the program has a long history of support from Wisconsin lawyer volunteers. We are especially grateful to those who have trained and served as volunteer peer supports and volunteer peer monitors.

WisLAP services are a benefit of your State Bar membership and available to everyone in the legal community. Learn more about WisLAP.