Associate Clinical Director

Overview

The New York City Bar Association (City Bar), founded in 1870, is a voluntary association of lawyers and law students. The City Bar’s mission is to equip and mobilize a diverse legal profession to practice with excellence, promote reform of the law, and uphold the rule of law and access to justice in support of a fair society and the public interest in our community, our nation, and throughout the world.

DEPARTMENT: Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP)
POSITION

REPORTS TO:

LAP Director
FLSA STATUS: Exempt

The New York City Bar Association Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) was established in 1999 to provide free, confidential assistance to lawyers, judges, law students, family members and staff affected by mental health, substance use, professional, family, career, or any issues that cause distress that may result in affecting the quality of one’s life, at work and at home.

LAP is a program of the City Bar Fund, the 501(c)3 non-profit affiliate of the NYC Bar Association and is primarily funded by a grant from the Unified Court System.

LAP’s mission is to support the mental health and wellbeing of lawyers, judges and law students, and family members and staff in the five boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island) and Westchester.

The Associate Clinical Director will work closely with the LAP Director by contributing to the overall mission and goals of LAP, including, but not limited to assessing ways to best serve the local legal community.

This is a unique position, working in an established program that is solely dedicated to assisting members of the legal profession. The program provides hands-on services to lawyers, judges, law students, staff, and family members who are affected by a wide range of personal and professional issues, including stress, depression, anxiety, alcohol/substance use disorders, family and relationship issues, career concerns, caregiving and other issues that can interfere with the ability to function optimally.

The ideal candidate is an experienced clinician who has previously worked with professionals. Knowledge of the legal system in New York State, especially as it pertains to admission to the bar and the grievance process, is a plus.

• Provide comprehensive evaluations and assessments of new clients to determine the nature and severity of the stated problem.
• Identify solutions and develop a plan of action.
• Provide supportive counseling.
• Provide crisis intervention.
• Provide referrals to treatment professionals, treatment programs, and specialists.
• Offer peer support from attorneys, judges, and law students who have overcome their struggles and are generously volunteering to help and support their colleagues.
• Provide educational presentations at law schools, bar associations, firms, the judiciary, and private and non-profit legal employers on preventing, recognizing, and addressing mental health and substance use disorders and any other problems affecting the well-being of legal professionals.
• Oversee the monitoring of bar candidates and attorneys, participating in the LAP Monitoring Program to ensure their compliance with monitoring requirements.
• Develop and implement specialized services to address the needs of lawyers, law students, and judges with ADHD, PTSD, vicarious trauma, cognitive impairment, and other issues as the needs arise.
• Work with the NYC Bar LAP Committee and LAP volunteers.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

• Master’s degree or higher in social work, or psychology; JD a plus.
• Must be currently fully licensed to practice in the state of New York.
• Minimum five years of clinical experience, post-master’s degree, working in the field of mental health and/or substance use disorders.
• Proven proficiency in psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and counseling techniques for individuals and groups; ability to work with complex cases, including co-occurring disorders.
• Ability to refer clients to the most appropriate setting.
• Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with clients.
• A commitment and dedication to challenge the stigma…