In 2007, the New Hampshire Supreme Court established the New Hampshire Lawyers Assistance Program. The program is the culmination of over 20 years of commitment in New Hampshire by two separate lawyer organizations, the Lawyers Assistance Committee of the New Hampshire Bar Association (LAC), and Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL), a 12-step based self-help group for lawyers. By 2000, most states had formalized programs, known as Lawyers Assistance Programs (LAPs), to assist attorneys in their states. The attributes of LAPs include confidentiality, outreach, and increased follow-through and support for struggling lawyers. With confidentiality, programs have seen a marked increase in attorneys seeking, obtaining, and continuing with needed assistance.

The New Hampshire Supreme Court formalized the NHLAP with the passage of Rule 58 in 2007. Chief Justice John Broderick, whose family had experienced the challenge of mental illness, championed a program that would provide confidential support and assistance to New Hampshire lawyers. Under Justice Broderick's leadership, the Court appointed the governing Commission of the NHLAP, now the Board of Directors.

The timing for the transition in executive directors highlights a new national push for attorney wellbeing. In 2016, the publication of the national Task Force on Lawyer Wellbeing ushered in a new era of overall wellness concerns for lawyers, judges, and law students. The Task Force on Lawyer Wellbeing was created to look further into the findings of the groundbreaking 2016 Hazelton Betty Ford/ABA CoLAP study The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys, which sounded the alarm on high statistics of mental health and substance misuse among American lawyers. The American Bar Association adopted Resolution 105 calling on all lawyers and legal employers to advance well-being in the legal profession. In 2018, Ann Bradford developed the Well-Being Tool Kit for Lawyers and Legal Employers. These developments reinforced NHLAP's founding commitment to confidential, practical, and compassionate assistance.

NHLAP today remains committed to providing free, confidential, and compassionate help to those in the legal profession experiencing any impairment that interferes with lawyer competency, not just alcohol misuse. We assist with anxiety, depression, grief, aging, cognitive decline, eating disorders, gambling addiction, drug addiction, burnout, compassion fatigue, and more. Confidentiality is protected by New Hampshire Supreme Court Rule 58. One provision of Rule 58 protects NHLAP from reporting instances of attorney misconduct discovered through the regular course of treatment. There are no exceptions to confidentiality in our services. NHLAP maintains a healthy professional relationship with the Attorney Discipline Office but does not answer to the ADO, and contacting NHLAP is not a report to discipline.

In 2022, the NHLAP Commission undertook its first strategic planning initiative, which drove an expansion of staff and focused priorities that include a new website, a sustained anti-stigma campaign, and deeper outreach in the North Country. Since Jill O'Neill's hiring as Executive Director, the average number of client referrals has more than doubled, reflecting increased awareness, access, and trust in NHLAP's confidential services.

Dakotah Thunder Wilson was hired as the Project Coordinator and has since advanced to the role of Engagement and Innovation Manager after demonstrating a higher level of program need. Mark Durso is Director of Wellness and Clinical Services and has expanded peer and discussion opportunities, including LCL continuing as part of the program, a weekly online Lawyer Mental Health Group focused on practical strategies for wellness and professional balance, and Life After Law for lawyers navigating retirement or transitions out of practice.

NHLAP is committed to free, confidential and compassionate help to those in the legal profession suffering from any impairment that interferes with lawyer competency, not just alcohol misuse. We can help with anxiety, depression, grief, aging, cognitive decline, eating disorders, gambling addiction, drug addiction, burnout, compassion fatigue and more. Help is just a phone call away.

Below are some articles regarding the Lawyer Assistance Program:
https://www.courts.nh.gov/rules-supreme-court-state-new-hampshire/rule-58-new-hampshire-lawyers-assistance-program

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/lawyer_assistance/task_force_report/

https://journals.lww.com/journaladdictionmedicine/fulltext/2016/02000/The_Prevalence_of_Substance_Use_and_Other_Mental.8.aspx

https://www.nccourts.gov/assets/inline-files/legal-3-1-16-ABA-Resolution-105.pdf?OpTcmpUqsJA3rvmmjIOYbSvmaANK6_VA

https://lawyerwellbeing.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Toolkit-Full_Final_July-30-2018.pdf