2012 Annual Report. Protecting the Public by Insuring the Health and Integrity of the Legal Profession

Transcription

1 2012 Annual Report Protecting the Public by Insuring the Health and Integrity of the Legal Profession

2 FLORIDA LAWYERS ASSISTANCE, INC ANNUAL REPORT OPERATIONS & CLIENTS In its 26 th year of operation, Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc. fielded over 700 telephone calls from impaired attorneys, judges, law students, family members, colleagues, the Florida Bar, and the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. Of these calls, 138 resulted in new files, bringing the total number of formal cases opened by FLA since its inception to 4,034. The majority of hotline calls are not opened as formal files, with most callers being referred to local 12 Step and FLA support meetings, volunteers, or FLA certified mental health care providers. FLA closed the year ending June 30, 2012 with 388 open files. Two thirds of the formal cases opened during the past year (66%) were voluntary contacts. Of those voluntary cases, 80% were opened as the result of contact made by the attorneys and law students themselves, while 20% were opened after formal or informal interventions performed at the request of concerned family members, colleagues, or judges. Of the voluntary files opened this year, 33% represented psychological or dual disorder cases, while 67% were chemical dependency cases. However, FLA continued to see a large number of hotline calls from attorneys dealing with stress, depression, and anxiety, often resulting from the fallout of the continuing unfavorable economic climate. While it is gratifying that FLA s message regarding its mental health, quality of life, and professionalism services is reaching the legal community, it is clear a substantial percentage of the profession is suffering negative health effects due to economic and social situations. The number of new files opened as pre-admission or conditional admission cases remained constant at 32% (30% pre-admission, 2% conditional admission). It should be noted that most of the cases opened as pre-admission go on to become either conditional or unconditional admissions, as indicated by the 33% rise in current open conditional admission files, from 63 to 95. FLA continues to work with the Florida Board of Bar Examiners and all Florida law schools to inform law students and applicants about FLA s existence and the benefits of developing a relationship with FLA as early as possible if an applicant s history indicates a prior substance abuse or psychological issue. FLA continues to provide evaluation and monitoring services to The Florida Bar in cases where an underlying substance abuse or psychological impairment may have contributed to the attorney s misconduct. This year, the percentage of cases opened as disciplinary matters represented 34% of new files, many of which were DUI evaluations performed by FLA staff or FLA certified health professionals at the request of The Florida Bar. Those evaluations produced statistics in line with national averages, which indicate that approximately 85% of individuals arrested for a first DUI go on to be diagnosed as not having an underlying substance abuse disorder, while approximately 90% of individuals arrested for a second or subsequent DUI within a 5 year period will be diagnosed as suffering from a substance abuse or dependence disorder. In addition, FLA participates in many aspects of the Bar s Professionalism Enhancement programs, including the Stress Management and Ethics Schools. The FLA web site ( registered 44,823 hits on the home page, a 29% increase over last year s usage, and remains FLA s largest referral source. Links to the FLA web site are listed on the Florida Bar s home page ( and Lawyers Helping Lawyers page (which also provides job listings and CLE seminars). The FLA web site contains a news feed, a blog, a confidential directory, a listing of attorney support meetings throughout the state, and is the primary means of delivering 1

3 information and registration services for the annual workshop. Other resources on the web site include a calendar of recovery related events around the country, links to other substance abuse, lawyer assistance program, mental health awareness, and law practice sites, a comprehensive bibliography and list of resources, confidential self-tests for substance abuse and depression, information for law students, printable monitor report forms, FLA annual reports, the FLA drug testing policy and other documents, and online monitor reports which can be completed and transmitted instantly. FLA is also utilizing the client management service provided by its drug testing manager, Affinity Online Solutions, to maintain clients statistics and demographics, allow for electronic filing of meeting logs and monitor reports, and correspond with clients, as well as oversee the drug testing and check-in policies. While FLA clients may not be enamored of the testing and daily check-in requirements, the customer service provided by Affinity and FLA s Drug Testing Coordinator, Val Lackey, has been positively received by FLA clients. The Florida Bar Journal and The Florida Bar News remain critical referral sources for FLA, and continue their support through publication of comprehensive articles and ads regarding FLA s services. FLA s primary live outreach tools are CLE seminars and law school orientations, including appearances by FLA staff at all Florida Bar s Practicing with Professionalism seminars, presented to every newly admitted lawyer in Florida, as well as local county bar association meetings. FLA has maintained it s presence on the social networking community with its Facebook page (Florida Lawyers Assistance) and Twitter account (@flalap), both of which are used to disseminate current information and allow FLA members to communicate the with staff and other FLA members. The FLA staff in Ft. Lauderdale simply could not function without (and remain very grateful to) FLA s almost 400 volunteers, who assist in serving Florida s over 90,000 lawyers. Both the FLA staff and volunteers are utilizing resources such as Skype and other video conferencing tools to bring support, training, and recovery to attorneys throughout the state, and to stay in contact with FLA volunteers and attorney support meetings. By using its volunteer network and multiple networking tools, FLA is able to maximize it effectiveness, consistently demonstrating one of the lowest per member costs among large state lawyer assistance programs. Currently, there are 29 weekly chemical dependency attorney support groups (including new groups in St. Augustine and Port Richie) and 8 facilitated mental health groups (including three at the FLA office in Ft. Lauderdale) that are available for any attorney, judge, or law student seeking help or information. FLA s Clinical Director, Dr. Scott Weinstein, continued to play a critical role in providing support to attorneys dealing with stress, depression, and suicidal thoughts, often due to the downturn in their economic situations. These stressors seem to be replicated around the country, and FLA has been proactive in working with the Florida Bar Center for Professionalism and the Law Office Management Assistance Service (LOMAS), other state LAP s, and the American Bar Association to develop programs addressing the practical and psychological effects of the economic downturn. FLA has continued its work with the Florida Bar Center for Professionalism and the Bar s Standing Committee on Professionalism to address the issue of aging in the legal profession. The impetus behind this joint task force was the joint 2007 NOBC-APRL report on aging, chaired by the Bar s Legal Division Director, John Berry ( The Florida Bar Board of Governors has also become aware of this issue, and has addressed it in its Hawkins Commission Report (see page 4). FLA s aging subcommittee is working with the University of Florida Brain Institute to develop screening protocols to determine the level of cognitive decline in aging lawyers, while FLA staff members are developing CLE presentations and seminars to raise the profession s awareness of this issue. It is hoped the task force can develop a model to be used by other states dealing with this pressing issue. 2

4 FINANCIAL Approximately one-third of FLA's income was self-generated over the past year. The sources of these funds were monitoring and registration fees paid to FLA by clients (23%) and by the Lawyer Regulation Department of The Florida Bar (68%), income derived from the FLA annual workshop (8%), and interest income (1%). In accordance with FLA s accounting procedures, this income represents cash actually received, and does not take into account evaluation and monitoring fees which have been deferred until such time as the clients are financially able to make payment. The balance of the FLA operating funds are received as an allocation from The Florida Bar. Expenses for fiscal year 2012 were substantially higher than projected due to the move to the new office (see page 5), but this was offset by increased revenue received from the Lawyer Regulation Department for monitoring services, allowing FLA to finish its year with a surplus which was added to its reserve account. FLA s budget request to The Florida Bar for FY 2013 remained at the FY 2012 level, and was granted in full. As it has historically, the Florida Bar put its money where its mouth is by not only providing verbal support to its members dealing with mental health and substance abuse problems, but by backing up that support with financial assistance as well. The tax exempt Hagan-Kilby Foundation continued its mission of assisting indigent attorneys to obtain treatment and evaluation services. The Foundation will continue its fund-raising efforts during the upcoming year in an attempt to build the fund to a level when any legal professional needing help or treatment can get it. EDUCATION, PREVENTION & PUBLIC RELATIONS Florida Lawyers Assistance has always devoted much of its effort to prevention through education of the bench, bar, and law students. FLA continues its success in reaching these segments of the legal community through presentations at law school orientations, professional responsibility classes, CLE seminars, county bar associations, and national organizations. Last year, FLA s Executive Director, Michael Cohen, was designated a permanent representative to the Bar s Standing Committee on Professionalism, and was reappointed to his eighth year on the Committee by Bar President Scott Hawkins. Mr. Cohen serves as the Chair of the Aging Working Group of the Standing Committee, which is one of the participants, together with FLA and the Bar s Center for Professionalism, in the joint aging task force created at FLA s urging in In response to feedback from FLA clients, FLA s 25 th Annual Workshop, organized by Clinical Director Scott Weinstein, returned to the Naples Beach Resort Hotel in July The 2011 workshop included presentations on treatment of disruptive professionals, the role of recovery in bar disciplinary and admissions cases, intimacy and relationships, and depression. In honor of FLA s 25 th anniversary, Michael Cohen and Judy Rushlow talked about their personal stories and their relationship with FLA as the conference dinner speakers. The 2012 workshop will be held July 27 th and 28 th in Naples. Michael (left) in Tampa Aquarium 1 In September 2011, FLA staff and volunteers hosted the 24 th annual workshop of the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP) and the annual convention of International Lawyers in A.A. (ILAA) in Tampa. The 2012 CoLAP conference will be held on October 8-12 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mr. Cohen continues to serve as the chair of the CoLAP Evaluations Committee, as well as on the ABA Standing Committee on Substance Abuse Advisory Committee. Ms. Rushlow was reappointed as a member of the CoLAP Advisory Committee, Senior Lawyers Committee, and Life Balance Committee. Mr. Cohen also continues his services as a director of the South Florida Behavioral Health Network, the managing entity for DCF substance abuse and mental health programs in Dade and Monroe counties. Dr. Weinstein continued 3

5 as a member of the board of the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling and was appointed to the CoLAP National Conference Planning Committee. FLA staff and representatives continued to present both locally and nationally at CLE, bar association, and law school seminars regarding impairment in the legal community and the role of FLA in addressing those issues. These presentations included: The Florida Bar Practicing with Professionalism seminars (various locations) The Florida Bar Ethics School (various locations) The Florida Bar Stress Management School (various locations) All Florida law school orientations Seminars on stress reduction to the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel Professionalism, Discipline, and Stimulants seminars at the University of Miami School of Law Martin County Bar Association Indian River County Bar Association Mental Health Awareness Seminar at FIU School of Law Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys ABA Equal Justice Conference The Florida Bar Student Education and Admissions to the Bar Committee The relationship between FLA and the Florida Bar s Legal Division was strengthened this year by the release of the Hawkins Commission Review of the Bar Discipline System. The review, undertaken at the request of Bar President Scott Hawkins, Esq., included findings of a committee chaired by Bar President-elect Eugene Pettis, Esq. which looked at: a) standards for imposing lawyer sanctions; b) alternatives to discipline; and c) aging lawyers. Some of the recommendations made by President-elect Pettis committee included increased dialogue between the Bar and the Supreme Court, clarification of the Bar s standards regarding compliance with conditional admission requirements (including daily checkins), changes to the rehabilitative suspension rules, expansion of eligibility for diversion, and possible rules changes and program additions to address the issue of aging lawyers. The full Hawkins Commission report can be accessed at the FLA web site under the Literature tab ( We are extremely pleased that Bar President Hawkins has agreed to be the dinner speaker at the July 2012 workshop in Naples. Likewise, the relationship between FLA and the Florida Board of Bar Examiners remains strong. Members from the Board (including the current and incoming chairs and the Executive Director) and the Bar attend the FLA Workshop to learn more about the program and meet the clients with whom both agencies deal. There are, of course, times when the three agencies may have differing goals, but there continues to be an ongoing and open dialogue attempting to balance the respective missions, while at the same time serving their different constituents. FLA has always worked to develop mutual respect between the organizations in the belief that such respect will help FLA achieve its primary goal of reaching Florida lawyers, judges, and law students before the effects of a substance abuse or mental health problem harm their clients, or cost them their families, careers, or lives. PERSONNEL Once again, it is a pleasure to report that there have been no personnel changes to the FLA staff in over seven years. Myer J. (Michael) Cohen and Judy Rushlow completed their seventeenth and sixteenth years as FLA s Executive and Assistant Directors, respectively, while Dr. Scott Weinstein finished his sixth year as FLA s full-time Clinical Director. Eleni Uher remains FLA s Office Manager, Val Lackey continues as Drug Testing Coordinator, and Dawn Withrow serves as FLA s Financial Affairs Administrator. Five incumbent FLA Directors whose terms expired on June 30, 2012 (William Banks, Esq., Matthew Gissen, Esq., William Sansone, Esq., Allen Von Spiegelfeld, Esq., and Barbara Williams, Esq.) were reappointed to three year terms by the Bar s Board of Governors. The FLA Board currently includes 4

6 eleven lawyers (one of whom is a former Supreme Court Justice), the physician Director of the Professionals Recovery Network (PRN), the Assistant Director of the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, a registered nurse, and a psychologist. The Board s dedication to FLA s mission has been and continues to be unwavering and inspiring. While FLA s staff did not change this year, its location did. After almost 20 years at its Oakland Park Blvd. location in Ft. Lauderdale, FLA moved its offices to Pompano Beach for both economic and convenience reasons. The new location, just east of Federal Highway in the Bank of America Building, represents a shorter drive for FLA staff members, and will produce a significant savings in rent over the course of the five year lease. The staff did a yeoman s job of packing up 26 years of FLA memorabilia, papers, and supplies and (with the help of an excellent moving company) got everything to the new offices over the course of a very intense weekend. FLA s new address is: 2335 E. Atlantic Blvd., Suite 410, Pompano Beach The phone and fax numbers and addresses remain the same. SUMMARY The FLA staff, with the assistance of its Board of Directors and volunteers, continues to provide support, assistance, and educational services to legal professionals throughout Florida, while looking for new ways to serve the profession. This simply could not be done without the support received from The Florida Bar, the Board of Bar Examiners, the FLA Board of Directors, the law schools, local county bar associations, monitors, volunteers, and the participants themselves. As we do every year, it cannot be repeated enough that without the emotional and financial support and time provided by all segments of the legal community, FLA could not achieve its goals of carrying the message of recovery to lawyers, judges, and law students throughout the state and providing assistance to every legal professional who seeks it, with the corresponding benefits to and protections for the clients and public they serve. It remains our belief that being allowed to participate in and watch attorneys, law students, and judges achieve recovery from substance abuse and psychological disorders is a gift beyond measure. July 11, 2012 MYER J. COHEN, Esq., Executive Director michael@fla-lap.org JUDITH R. RUSHLOW, Esq., Assistant Director judy@fla-lap SCOTT M. WEINSTEIN, Ph.D., Clinical Director scott@fla-lap.org 5