Leading with Hope:
Marissa B. Joelson and Kate Hanlon Sinclair
Head Up MSBA's Lawyer Assistance Program
THE LAWYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LAP) provides free, confidential assistance to all Maryland lawyers, judges, law school students, and support staff by offering assessment, referral, short-term counseling, and continued support to ensure long-term success.
Marissa B. Joelson and Kate Hanlon Sinclair, the first female Chair and ViceChair of the Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP), exemplify how the program is a vital resource for legal professionals. Their personal and professional journeys highlight the immense pressures of the legal field and demonstrate the importance of confidential support and community.
As the new LAP Chair, Joelson brings a deep understanding of the pressures faced by legal professionals. Joelson, the head of the Medical Malpractice Department at Peter Angelos Law, believes that the adversarial nature of litigation creates an environment where a lawyer's success is often measured by whether they “won.”
This constant need to "win," she says, is "why the legal profession ranks so high
in mental health crises, substance abuse, and suicide." She believes this pressure can cause feelings of "inadequacy and self-doubt" in new attorneys and can even trigger mental health issues in those who previously had none.
Joelson views the LAP as a vital support system that creates a ripple effect of positivity. When lawyers "team up to support one another," she says, it can make a big difference for them and their families, employers, coworkers, and clients. She believes that by sharing how they've overcome challenges, lawyers can give others "hope, an example to follow, as well as advice as to how they were able to improve their thinking, behaviors, or decision making." Joelson also stresses the importance of simply being "cordial and pleasant," noting that "Being a fierce advocate and amicable opponent at the same time is key."
As Chair, Joelson is determined to grow LAP's reach. Her primary goal is to ensure every member of the legal community knows that LAP is "first and foremost— confidential." She wants to ensure no one risks their license or position before asking for help. Joelson wants
By sharing how they've overcome challenges, lawyers can give others "hope, an example to follow, as well as advice as to how they were able to improve their thinking, behaviors, or decision making."
every lawyer to know that "insecurity, self-doubt, burnout, anxiety, and other uncomfortable feelings are common." She welcomes anyone to contact LAP so they can provide confidential support, guidance, or even financial assistance to cover the cost of treatment. Her ultimate message is one of hope: "No one needs to lose what we all worked so hard to achieve."
Sinclair, who works as counsel at Silverman Thompson Slutkin & White, draws on her own experiences with anxiety and depression to inform her work as Vice-Chair of LAP. She openly shared that she "struggled with anxiety and depression for many of my younger years, well into the early years of my legal practice," and found help through successful treatment.
Sinclair believes that LAP benefits the profession not only by providing direct assistance like "assessment, referral for treatment, or short-term counseling" but also by educating lawyers about the "elevated risks of substance abuse and mental illness." Her experience as a "virtual, freelance attorney" has taught her the importance of work-life balance, and she hopes that her role as a primary caregiver for her two children while practicing law will encourage others to seek arrangements that help them "balance my personal and professional lives." She has learned that she is "not alone in many of the areas where I struggle," and that "hiding my struggles does not eliminate them."
For Sinclair, LAP is more than a service; it's a tool for education and community. She recognizes that the legal profession's demands, high stakes, tight deadlines, and mountains of documents create a "cumulative pressure exclusive to the law." She believes LAP directly benefits lawyers by providing help and by fostering a more self-aware legal community. Sinclair's commitment to self-care and mental health, in addition to her volunteer work with her children's schools, has taught her that she is not alone in her struggles. "I have learned that I am not alone in many of the areas where
I struggle, as a mom, a daughter, wife, or lawyer," she says. "I have also learned that hiding my struggles does not eliminate them." Her experience and perspective emphasize LAP’s role in normalizing conversations around mental wellness and providing a space for lawyers to get the help they need.
A Historic Partnership for the Legal Assistance Program
Joelson’s and Sinclair’s appointment marks the first time a female duo has led LAP. This milestone and their work with Director Lisa Caplan, LCSW-C, create a powerful all-female leadership team. They hope this appointment sends a message of progress and demonstrates that the legal profession is becoming more inclusive and supportive of diverse experiences. Sinclair shared that "one of the most exciting things about this milestone was the lack of surprise within the committee that we now have an all-female leadership slate. The reception I have received from our committee has been warm, welcoming, and supportive."
Both women are determined to leverage their professional and personal backgrounds to grow the program and reach a wider audience. They want every member of the Maryland legal community, from law students to seasoned judges, to know that help is available.
