Impairments are defined as alcohol and drug dependency, mental and physical illnesses, age related problems, and other disorders or problems that adversely affect Missouri Lawyers. This person should have a master's degree in psychology, counseling or other related field from an accredited education institution or a J.D. with appropriate experience and certification. Must be licensed as a professional counselor or willing to seek licensure in Missouri as noted under Section 337.150 RSMo., or licensed by another state having substantially the same licensing requirements under which reciprocity would apply. The focus of this program will initially be chemical dependency and recovery assistance for law students, lawyers and judges. At a later date, it may be expanded to assist members of the profession with other addictions and personal problems.
Plans are under way to hire a new director, hopefully by the first of the new year.
A Search Sub-Committee has been appointed, which is chaired by Richard E. Shugrue, a Law Professor at Creighton University. As soon as a Job Description is developed, it will be circulated to those on the Commission mailing list. Since its creation in 1990, the LAP has fielded some 20,000 telephone calls and received more than 1,000 referrals from concerned members and their families seeking information about the disease which, in some areas, may afflict as much as 18 percent of the lawyer population. The recent Annual Report shows that during the past year calls to the LAP have increased by 13 percent. The Lawyer Support Committee and an outside consultant hired to provide the service are in the final stages of preparation, and hope to be up and running this month.