Law school can be both an exciting and stressful experience. Recent studies indicate that for some, the incidence of depression or substance abuse increases during law school. Sometimes events preceding or during law school can affect the student’s application to sit for the state bar examination.
The Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program is available to talk with law students and bar applicants.
All services are CONFIDENTIAL AND FREE.
Special note on character and fitness
When you apply for admission to the bar of any state, you must affirmatively demonstrate that you have the character and fitness necessary to be an officer of the court and be placed in a position of fiduciary trust to your clients. If you have drug and alcohol related charges and arrests in your past (even if they were dismissed or expunged or even if they occurred long ago and you are clean and sober now) or if you have had unusual conduct or consequences due to any mental health conditions, it is advised that you contact the LAP as soon as possible upon entering law school. The LAP will work with you and can help guide you in this process if you are willing to follow clinical recommendations and are sincere about your recovery.
Students in Recovery Listserv
The Student in Recovery Listserv was developed by the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP) to provide a confidential email vehicle for law students who want to get, or stay, clean and sober while in law school. This is a chance for students to connect with and ask questions of their law student peers throughout the US and share their experience, strength and hope. If you wish to be added to the Listserv, interested students should contact the DC Bar LAP, directly at lap@dcbar.org.
Students should be prepared to talk a bit about their history and about their need and desire to communicate with other law students facing similar challenges. LAP staff will make the final determination to add a student to the Listserv and will provide each student with the rules and regulations regarding use of the “Students in Recovery Listserv.” When a student graduates and is admitted to the bar, he/she will be removed from the Listserv. This service is confidential.