Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Page 33
Page 34
Page 35
Page 36
Page 37
Page 38
Page 39
Page 40
Page 41
Page 42
Page 43
Page 44
Page 45
Page 46
Page 47
Page 48
Page 49
Page 50
Page 51
Page 52
Page 53
Page 54
Page 55
Page 56
The Mississippi Lawyer Winter 2016 27 ed to give myself every advantage. More than three years have passed since that night in jail and Im enjoying a freedom and peace previously unknown to me. The conditions that I thought caused me to drink became manageable once my alcoholism was treated. What Ive learned in the process is a lesson that cant be taught in a classroom. I had to quit fighting a losing battle that I could not win on my own. I had to surrender in order to win. Volunteering A Way to Help Several years ago I saw a request in an email from the Mississippi Bar for volunteers to help with the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program. Because I had never been active in organized Bar activities and was looking for a way to be involved I volunteered. Even though I am not in recovery I thought that as a jour- neyman lawyer with more than 35 years as a member of the Bar and after work- ing in private practice a corporate law department legal services and in govern- ment I surely understood the frustration loneliness disappointment and doubt that plague even the best lawyers among us and that I could use the empathy I felt for struggling members of the Bar to lift them up if by doing nothing more than being available for a cup of coffee and trying to be a good listener. Once accepted I found a very different role as committee member and monitor. For the most part LJAP is about recover- ing lawyers helping lawyers in recovery. What I found as a committee member and a monitor was a wonderful group of lawyers some of whom have graciously shared painful stories of personal failure and redemption and who are committed to helping each other. From their relation- ships spring mutual affection support and accountability that help return broken lawyers to the ranks of highly ethical compassionate and competent lawyers restoring families and building stronger communities in the process. Being a monitor affords me an oppor- tunity to help recovering lawyers fulfill their commitments to the Bar but when writing this Im reminded of a sticker I recently saw on the back of an SUV while commuting to work. It was in the shape of a dog bone and it simply said Who rescued who Even though Im techni- cally the helper I know in my heart that I am being helped as much as I am helping. I am uplifted by the opportunity to help my fellow lawyers to see broken people made whole to hear their stories of failure and redemption to see the joy and grati- tude in the face of a once suffering spouse whose relationship has been restored in part through the great work of LJAP and staff to learn from recovering lawyers and to know that there is hope for all of us no matter how broken we might be. You can help by donating even a small amount of money to the Mississippi Bar Foundation to be used by the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program to help pay for treatment for your fellow lawyers who are unable to afford treatment. Please make sure to note that the funds are to be used by LJAP for treatment. Perspectives from MS Lawyers ......LL.M. ALABAMA The University of Alabama School of Law online LL.M. concentration in Taxation or Business Transactions AlabamaLLM.ua.edums Online LL.M. degree programs Tax and Business Law Concentrations