Washington Lawyer - July 2017 - 13

2014, describes how the classes introduced her to
concepts she had never considered in her practice,
particularly in terms of applying her "emotional
quotient" or EQ to better understand and inspire
her colleagues.
"The Leadership Academy helped me take a step back
and look at how I make decisions, how I influence
other people, and how I work in a group dynamic,"
says Zwack. "It was really eye-opening. In the three
years since I finished the Academy, I apply this knowledge in my personal life, in my professional life, and in
my law practice with colleagues and clients."
Beyond supporting members in their professional
pursuits, the Bar has distinguished itself in providing
programs that serve members' personal needs. The
Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) offers a broad
array of services to address mental health challenges, including relationship difficulties and stress
management, as well as treatment for substance
abuse and other addictions. The LAP held about
1,500 counseling sessions in 2016.
Modeled after employee assistance programs in
corporate America, the LAP offers comprehensive
assessment, short-term counseling sessions, and
referral services. LAP clients include lawyers in the
District, judges serving on D.C. courts, and students
attending D.C. law schools.
"We're seeing an increase in mental health issues in
law schools. I don't know if there are more mental
health issues or more awareness of mental health,"
says Steward. "Each year, I have LAP members come
talk to students. This is a free resource that's available to law students. The students hear directly
from people who have had addiction problems.
It goes a long way to helping the student body."
To be a leader in the legal profession, the Bar has
ramped up its efforts in delivering engaging and
thought-provoking content to assist members in
their practice. In 2016 the Bar redesigned its
flagship publication, Washington Lawyer, for the
first time in more than a decade and launched a
digital edition, linking members to additional
articles, audio, and video on the Bar's website and
social media channels. In addition, the Bar
launched the daily curated news email Legal Brief,
providing members with the latest in the national
and international legal world. These digital tools
have further opened up new opportunities for the
Bar to reach its members and to connect them to
each other.
"I think the D.C. Bar has made huge strides and
investments in the most current technologies in
terms of communications," says Benitez. "It's an area
that has been necessary to better serve our
members. The upgrading and revamping of the Bar's
website and its magazine are just two examples."

The D.C. Bar also made significant enhancements
to its Fastcase legal research benefit, providing all
active and judicial members free unlimited access
to officially published decisions of the D.C. Superior
Court, in addition to access to Fastcase's full national
law library and collection exclusive to D.C.

SERVING MEMBERS
AND THE PUBLIC
From its beginning, the Bar's core mission, supported by member dues, has been the regulation
of attorney conduct and the education of attorneys
in their ethical obligations under the D.C. Rules of
Professional Conduct. In doing so, the Bar continues
its central responsibilities of enhancing the
integrity of the profession and ensuring the protection of the public.
Through the administration of the Clients' Security
Fund, which is funded by a portion of member
dues, clients are reimbursed for the theft of their
money or property caused by the dishonest
conduct of Bar members. The Attorney/Client
Arbitration Board provides a forum for the resolution of fee disputes by arbitration or voluntary
mediation between Bar members and the clients
or former clients.

INVESTED IN THE
COMMUNITY
●

Investors Saving for
Retirement

●

Retirees

●

College Savers

●

Individuals with
Insurance Needs
Individuals with
Estate Needs

Nearly 2,400 calls to the Legal Ethics Helpline last
fiscal year provided Bar members with confidential
advice and guidance about ethics issues that arise
in their practices.
The D.C. Court of Appeals has the ultimate authority
for disciplining members who violate the Rules. The
Board on Professional Responsibility (BPR) serves as
the disciplinary arm of the court, adjudicating cases
of lawyer misconduct. The Office of Disciplinary
Counsel, appointed by the BPR, investigates complaints of misconduct against Bar members and
serves as chief prosecutor for the disciplinary
system. The court reviews the recommendations
of the BPR and its Hearing Committees and
imposes the most serious sanctions - public
censure, suspension, or disbarment.
"I think the system has worked extraordinarily well
over the years," says Eric L. Yaffe, a principal with the
Washington, D.C., office of Gray Plant Mooty who
served as BPR chair from 2014 to 2016. "That is, in
part, because it's a system overseen by the D.C.
Court of Appeals, which plays a very active role in
the enforcement of the Rules of Professional
Conduct."

Sheila Cheek
Financial Advisor

"Our system has worked very well because it
focuses on fairness to everybody involved in the
process. It's held up to the test of time, and while
nothing is perfect, I think the system has been the
envy of a lot of disciplinary systems around the
country," adds Yaffe.

Bus. 202-223-2902
Fax 855-849-8107

1667 K Street NW
Suite 260
Washington, DC 20006

sheila.cheek@edwardjones.com
www.edwardjones.com

http://www.edwardjones.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Washington Lawyer - July 2017