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The American Bar Association’s Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (ABA CoLAP) has produced a video aimed at reaching law students who may be experiencing addiction and encourage them to seek help. IU McKinney’s Professor Allison Martin is co-chair of the Commission's Law School Assistance Committee and helped with the video during Summer 2016.

In fact, Professor Martin speaks at the conclusion of the 32-minute version of the video, and Terry Harrell, executive director of the Indiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program introduces it. There is a 3-minute version of the production as well. Both versions are available for viewing on the ABA’s website.

The videos capture the story of Laurie Besden, a lawyer and executive director of Pennsylvania’s Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers program. She outlines how she became an addict after a car crash that happened while she was in law school, and how she started her recovery after talking with a fellow lawyer who had been an addict, too.

"When I saw Laurie tell her story at a national conference a year ago, I was blown away," Professor Martin said. "It is compelling and powerful, and I felt that law students would be able to identify with her.

"My hope is that the video will help to advance the dialogue about substance use, addiction, and mental health issues in the legal profession. Recent studies have shown that these issues are real and prevalent among law students and lawyers. I also hope that her story will encourage others struggling with similar issues to seek help."

Professor Martin is a clinical professor of law. She teaches litigation drafting; legal analysis, research and communication; professional responsibility, and legal process.