The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers
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opinion Group Publisher: Karen Lorimer Editor/Associate Publisher: Gail J. Cohen Associate Editor: Helen Burnett Copy Editor: Matt LaForge Creative Director: Einar Rice Art Director: Janet Popadiuk Account Co-ordinator: Mary Hatch Contributing Editors: Jean Sorensen, Geoff Kirbyson, donalee Moulton Canadian Lawyer is published 11 times a year by Canadian Lawyer Magazine Inc., 240 Edward St., Aurora, Ont. L4G 3S9 (905) 841-6480 Fax: (905) 727-0017. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted without written permission. The opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily those of the publisher. Information presented is compiled from sources believed to be accurate, however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Subscription rates: Canada $65.00 plus GST of $3.25 = $68.25 per year. Add $30 per year for sub- scriptions in the United States. Add $30 for International subscriptions. Single copies $7.00 plus GST of $0.35 = $7.35. 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Morrison 240 Edward St., Aurora, ON L4G 3S9 Phone: (905) 841-6480 Fax: (905) 727-0017 E-mail: cleditor@clbmedia.ca Web: www.canadianlawyermag.com Publications Mail Agreement #40766500 ISSN 0703-2129 Copyright © 2008 G.S.T. Registration #R121349799 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESS TO: CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 240 EDWARD ST., AURORA, ON L4G 3S9 RETOURNER TOUTE CORRESPONDANCE NE POUVANT ÊTRE LIVRÉE AU CANADA AU SERVICE DES PUBLICATIONS 240 EDWARD ST., AURORA, ON L4G 3S9 Circulation/Address Changes/Subscriptions Helen Steenkamer Toll Free: 1-888-743-3551 Ext. 4376 Fax: 905-841-4357 E-mail: hsteenkamer@clbmedia.ca For all circulation inquiries and address changes send a copy of your mailing label or labels along with your request in writing to Canadian Lawyer 240 Edward Street, Aurora, ON, L4G 3S9 Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index EDITOR ' S DE SK BY GAIL J. COHEN law knows it's no walk in the park. Law is a stressful profession book- ended by the need to stay solvent on one end and the demands of clients on the other. For lawyers in larger firms, it is somewhat easier to manage than it is for those who practise alone or in smaller firms. Large firms have not only more lawyers to turn to if you've got questions or problems but many have built-in support mechanisms, educational opportunities, and even accounting and human resource departments to do a lot of the basics. That's not the case for many other lawyers and they do run into problems trying to juggle all their various responsibilities. But it's more than just the difficulties of the day-to-day running of a No lawyer left behind T law practice — it's the overwhelming stress of practice in general. I don't know a single lawyer who doesn't know at least one other lawyer who has problems with drugs or alcohol or even both. Long hours, high expec- tations, hefty workloads, and complex work create a perfect storm for substance abuse. What may start out as the occasional drink after work can quickly turn into a daily need for alcohol or something stronger to take the edge off. In this, the size of the law firm does not matter. Stress is stress and the search for a crutch knows no limits. In the good old days, which weren't really all that long ago, colleagues often knew about another lawyer's drug or alcohol problem but not much was said about it, a few friends may have tried to help but the problem was kept hush hush. But as discipline records at the law societ- ies will show, in the end, it's often personal problems that start to hurt the law practice and frequently end in letters from the law society or even disbarment. It's more likely to be a marriage breakdown or similar personal problem than any real nefarious behaviour that is at the root of what sends many a lawyer in the vortex of disciplinary proceedings. In recent years, there has been a much greater realization of these prob- lems within the legal profession in Canada. We saw the creation of many lawyer assistance groups across the country. Most started simply as drug- and alcohol-support organizations but they've grown into much more. For lawyers who are having trouble in certain areas of their practice, they can access peer support networks to help with, say, accounting problems or complicated cases. For those having emotional or substance-abuse problems, there is access to professional counsellors in every province across the country. The Canadian Bar Association even has a section that provides education, support, and expertise to strengthen these provin- cial lawyer assistance programs. Help is out there. It's up to lawyers to recognize when they're having problems and reach out. But there's just as much of an onus on friends and colleagues to reach out and offer a helping hand or a bit of guid- ance to keep their lawyer pals off the radar of the law societies' discipline departments. To co-opt a catchphrase from the Bush administration: no lawyer should be left behind. www. C ANADIAN Law ye rmag.com FEBRU AR Y 2008 3 his month's cover story is a cautionary tale but also a chance to openly discuss issues facing many lawyers across Canada, the ma- jority of whom work alone or in small firms. Anyone practising