Alberta Lawyers’ Assistance Society: Updates and Upcoming Events
The Alberta Lawyers’ Assistance Society’s (Assist) mission is to enhance the immediate and long-term well-being of Alberta lawyers, articling and law students, and their dependent families, through confidential and non-judgmental psychological assistance, peer support, education and community-building.
Assist is working remotely during the COVID-19 crisis to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the legal community.
Counselling: Assist continues to provide four confidential and free professional counselling sessions per person per issue per year. Their psychologists conduct sessions using secure online platforms and by telephone.
Issues relating to COVID-19 is considered as a new category of issue so that sessions are available to everyone struggling with the current crisis. Please call Assist at 1.877.537.5508 to book an appointment.
Peer Support: Assist’s Peer Support Matching Program continues to operate using technology with lawyer volunteers available to meet online or by telephone.
Drop-in Peer Support sessions are going online. Assist is hosting their first online discussion group on Monday, April 20 to chat about issues lawyers and students are facing. Please email program-manager@lawyerassist.ca for more information.
Education: Assist is partnering with the Chartered Professionals Assist Program (CPA Assist) and Forbes Psychological Services Ltd. to offer a series of webinars to address common issues.
April 15 – Thamerai Moorthy
Mindfulness in Turbulent Times – 11a.m. – 12 p.m. (MDT)
April 22 – Matt Cairns
Working from Home: Fortify your Core – 11a.m. – 12 p.m. (MDT)
April 29 – Laurie Zalmonowitz
Resiliency in Times of Uncertainty – 11a.m. – 12 p.m. (MDT)
Registration details are found in the links for each seminar.
Community: Assist welcomes you to join them for weekly live-streamed yoga class on Wednesdays at noon. Contact program-manager@lawyersassist.ca to register.
Assist’s New Parents Practicing Law Group will be hosting two live online community events with a family therapist to discuss tips for working from home while practicing law during a pandemic. Find out more information on the Assist website.
Lawyer 12 Step groups are meeting using online platforms. Alberta lawyers, articling students or law students in recovery are invited to connect with either the Calgary or Edmonton group. Contact Assist’s Executive Director, Loraine Champion, at 403.571.1066 to arrange an introduction.
Visit Assist’s website for more information or email program-manager@lawyersassist.ca.