Lawyers Assisting Lawyers (WaLAL)

FREE. CONFIDENTIAL. INDEPENDENT.

WaLAL is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer support organization independent from the Bar Association or any other organization.

WaLAL is a network of WA lawyers assisting other lawyers, judges, and law students with mental health, emotional health, and addiction challenges. We are a committed corps of trained lawyers providing peer counseling to others in the Washington state legal community.

WaLAL is a WSBA Licensed Sponsor of CLE

The Washington State Bar Association has licensed Washington Lawyers Assisting Lawyers as a sponsor for mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) and approved our webinars, including peer support trainings, for credit.

Attend live webinars and earn free CLE credits. Peer support trainings happen at 12 p.m. the third Monday of each month. Trainings are conducted via Zoom.

Site Specific CLE Programming

Law firms and public interest organizations can collaborate with WaLAL to build site specific CLE programming to increase the health and civility of their lawyers.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality and respect for anonymity are at the core of WaLAL.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. Who is eligible for help from WaLAL?

A. The past, present, and future of Washington State’s legal profession are eligible for WaLAL: lawyers and judges,whether current or retired, and law students at any of Washington’s three law schools, are eligible.

Q. Are the names of lawyers, judges, or law students who seek assistance from WaLAL accessible by any entity outside of WaLAL?

A. NO. No outside entity, including the courts and WSBA, has access to the identity of persons seeking or receiving WaLAL services.

Law students do not have to report WaLAL peer counseling or other forms of clinical assistance obtained separately from WaLAL as part of their bar application.

Q. Does a lawyer, judge, or law student who seeks assistance from WaLAL have to report this to WSBA or the courts?

A. NO. Seeking help from WaLAL is confidential.

Q. Is a disbarred lawyer, or a lawyer under current discipline, including suspension, reprimand, or monitoring, eligible for help from WaLAL?

A. YES.

Q. Is a lawyer admitted in Washington State who practices in another state or country eligible for help from WaLAL?

A. YES.

Q. Should I be hesitant to seek the help of WaLAL because somebody might find out that I did seek such help?

A. NO. WaLAL is a safe, independent, and confidential resource.

The foundation of WaLAL is the confidentiality and anonymity of the lawyers, judges, and law students it serves.