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Lawyers' Assistance Program

  • September 25, 2014 | People
    Judge Henry Simmons, Managing Partner at Clifford Law Offices, to Receive Pro Bono Award

    Judge Henry Simmons (retired), Managing Partner at Clifford Law Offices, will be receiving the John Powers Crowley Justice Award from the Lawyers’ Assistance Program (LAP) Nov. 14.  The award is named for Justice Crowley who served as a federal judge of the Northern District of Illinois in the late 1970s.  

    The annual award, given to someone who has demonstrated a commitment to helping lawyers in need, is being awarded to Judge Simmons for his long and hard work with LAP over the years.  Illinois Supreme Court Justice Hon. Anne M. Burke will be the keynote speaker at the event to be held at the Union League Club, 65 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago.

    LAP is a not-for profit organization that helps Illinois lawyers, judges, law students and their families with alcohol abuse, drug dependency or mental health problems.  Its services include education, information and referral, peer assistance and intervention.

    To learn more or to obtain tickets for the reception and dinner, please go to www.illinoislap.org or call l-800-LAP-1233.

  • January 4, 2013 | Events
    Lawyers' Assistance Program to honor Keefe at 4th Annual Bartylak Dinner

    Thomas Q. Keefe, Jr., trial attorney and Interim Dean of the St. Louis University School of Law, will be honored at the Fourth Annual Joseph R. Bartylak Award Dinner on Friday, May 3, at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield.         

    The Lawyers’ Assistance Program has been confidentially assisting Illinois lawyers, judges, law students and their families with alcohol, substance abuse and mental health issues since 1980. LAP created the Joseph R. Bartylak Award to be awarded annually to deserving ‘downstate’ volunteers. Joe Bartylak served LAP since its inception as an incorporator, volunteer, Board member and as the Associate Director from 2002-2007. Joe also served as Director of Land of Lincoln Legal Services for many years.

    This year we will honor Dean Keefe for his continued support of LAP and its mission. Tom exemplifies the qualities that Joe brought to this important work.

    Dinner tickets are $75 per person. Tables of 8 may be purchased for $600. If you are interested in attending, please contact Hon. James Radcliffe (ret.), Associate Director, so that we can include you on our mailing list.  He can be reached via mail at 2217 West Main Street, Belleville, IL 62226; via e-mail at jradcliffe@illinoislap.org.  and via phone at (618) 444-9706.

  • January 19, 2012 | Events
    LAP to host 3rd Annual Bartylak Dinner on March 23

    Lester Munson will be the keynote speaker at the Third Annual Joseph Bartylak Dinner at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield on Friday, March 23, 2012.

    Munson is an ESPN sportswriter, a popular Chicago media personality, and a long-time LAP volunteer.

    The Lawyers’ Assistance Program (LAP) will present the Joseph R. Bartylak Award to J. Nelson Wood of Mt. Vernon and Chicago for his exemplary work as a volunteer for the organization.

    The reception is at 6:00 PM and the dinner at 6:30 PM. Tickets are $75. For information contact Judge James Radcliffe, LAP’s associate director, at (618) 444-9706 or bartylakdinner@illinoislap.org.

  • September 19, 2011 | Events
    Lawyers' Assistance Program to sponsor retreat for eating disorders and better health

    Lawyers' Assistance Program will sponsor a 24-hour retreat for eating disorders and better health on Oct. 28-29 at The Center in Palos Park. The program will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday evening and end at 5 p.m. on Saturday and will focus on healty eating, compulsive eating and the causes for behaviors related to food.

    Speakers will include Dr. Kimberly Dennis, a Chicago-area psychiatrist who specializes in eating disorders; Judge Sheila Murphy, president of Lawyers' Assistance Program; Circuit Court Judge Allen Goldberg; Wheaton attorney Brigid Duffield and event chair CJ Muller of Palos Hills.

    Cost is $135 for single occupancy, $124 for double occupancy, and $65 for commuters. Space is limited. Contact Lawyers' Assistance Program at (312) 726-6607 to register or for more information.

  • March 30, 2011 | Events
    LAP honors O'Brien and Barry at Bartylak Dinner
    President Mark Hassakis and Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride are welcomed by Lawyers Assistance Program president Sheila Murphy to the 2nd Annual Joseph R. Bartylak Dinner at the Governor's Mansion in Springfield March 25. Kilbride was featured speaker at the dinner. Retired appellate justice Tobias Barry of Ladd and retired circuit judge E. Michael O'Brien of Peoria were presented the Joseph R. Bartylak Volunteer Service Award. President Hassakis and past ISBA presidents Herb Franks of Marengo and Timothy Bertschy of Peoria were singled out by Murphy for their long support of LAP.
  • January 20, 2011 | Events
    Chief Justice Kilbride to speak at Bartylak Award Dinner
    Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride of the Illinois Supreme Court will be the keynote speaker at the Second Annual Joseph R. Bartylak Award Dinner on Friday, March 25, at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield. The Lawyers’ Assistance Program has been confidentially assisting Illinois lawyers, judges, law students and their families with alcohol, substance abuse and mental health issues since 1980. The backbone of LAP is its hundreds of trained volunteers. Last year LAP created the Joseph R. Bartylak Award to be awarded annually to deserving ‘downstate’ volunteers.  Joe Bartylak, who passed away last summer, served LAP since its inception as an incorporator, volunteer, Board member and as the Associate Director from 2002-2007. Joe also served as Director of Land of Lincoln Legal Services for many years. This year we will honor retired Justice Tobias G. Barry of Ladd and retired Judge E. Michael O’Brien of Peoria. Both are long time LAP volunteers and exemplify the qualities that Joe brought to this important work. Dinner tickets are $75 per person. If you are interested in attending, please contact James Radcliffe, Associate Director, at jradcliffe@illinoislap.org.
  • March 18, 2010 | Events
    Lawyers' Assistance Program to honor Huffman at award dinner
    The Lawyers’ Assistance Program has been assisting Illinois lawyers, judges, law students and their families with alcohol, substance abuse and mental health issues since 1980. The backbone of LAP is its hundreds of trained volunteers. In this, our 30th year, LAP has created the Joseph R. Bartylak Award to be awarded to a deserving volunteer annually. The first recipient is John Huffman of Carbondale. Joe Bartylak has been involved with LAP since its inception and served as the Associate Director from 2002-2007.  Joe also served as Director of Land of Lincoln Legal Services for many years. In recognition of Joe, John and all of our volunteers, LAP will have a dinner on March 26 at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield. Justice Lloyd Karmeier of the Illinois Supreme Court has graciously agreed to be our keynote speaker. Contact Jim Radcliffe, a retired judge from St. Clair County and current Associate Director of LAP, at jradcliffe@illinoislap.org for more information.
  • December 14, 2009 | Practice News
    Lawyers' Assistance Program video featured at ISBA Assembly meeting
    A video created by the Lawyers' Assistance Program was shown at the ISBA Assembly meeting on Saturday at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. LAP Executive Director Janet Piper Voss also addressed the Assembly and urged lawyers to seek help for themselves and anyone they know struggling with depression or dependency issues. Click here to view the LAP video.