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The Mississippi Lawyer Winter 2016 35 n thirteen years as Chancellor for Harrison Hancock and Stone Counties I have witnessed first-hand the highs and the lows of life in both the courtroom and more broadly in our societys view of our chosen profession. I By Judge James B. Persons The great pride I have felt watching skilled impassioned practitioners giving their best for their clients and ultimately to our system of justice has unfortu- nately been rattled at times with news that leaves no room for doubt that some of these same very capable and extremely competent lawyers have fallen victim to alcoholism drug addiction depression and similar afflictions the results of which are often tragic. Clients suffer careers are ruined families are destroyed public per- ception and confidence in lawyers and the legal system are tarnished and for some their lives are cut short. I am pleased to be able to say from personal experience that The Mississippi Bars Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program or LJAP as it is known is a bea- con of light and change in this otherwise dark side of our profession. Let me tell you how I see the problem and how LJAP is helping to address it. LJAP is comprised of volunteers throughout the state who are ready to assist judges like myself in providing help to lawyers who are in need. Many but not all of them are in recovery themselves. They have been where that lawyer who is currently suffering is and they have been able to crawl out of the grip of addiction and become productive lawyers again. They are a credit to our bar association. Because of them LJAP is one of the strongest and most active lawyer assistance programs in this country. The process or procedure for a judge such as myself to utilize the services of LJAP is relatively simple. If I have concerns about a lawyers physical or mental health or if other judges or lawyers have expressed similar concerns to me I contact either a local LJAP committee member or Chip Glaze the Director of LJAP. From that point they take it. First committee members and Chip do a discreet and confidential investigation by interviewing colleagues of the troubled lawyer or his family and close friends to insure that the concerns being expressed are substantiated. Not all reports prove to be serious. But all reports are taken seriously. In some instances a lawyer may simply be going through some temporary difficulty but no significant treatment is required. However there are cases where a lawyer needs help and is either scared of losing his or her license or their career and is unwilling or unable to ask for the help necessary. This is the instance where judges can prove to be a valuable tool. If private efforts by LJAP prove unsuccessful or if there is a lawyer who is so seriously impaired and immediate attention is required LJAP will coordinate an intervention in which I participate. Usually this involves requesting that the lawyer in need of help appear in my cham- bers to privately discuss an undisclosed matter. Committee members of LJAP are present. Family members friends or law partners may be invited if needed. Before the impaired lawyer arrives LJAP has made initial assessments as to his or her condition and what help is most needed at the time. They have also made contacts with appropriate rehabilitation facilities to help the lawyer get the help he or she needs. My role is to moderate the inter- vention and to confirm that by rule of the Mississippi Supreme Court the LJAP program is confidential and that all alle- Continued on next page