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A local lifeline for legal professionals fighting substance abuse problems
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: May 13, 2011
June 10 marks the official founding of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in Akron.
As members prepare to celebrate the 76th annual Founders’ Day at The University of Akron, those at the Akron Bar Association’s Lawyers Assistance Committee continue to wage a battle to help those suffering with addiction and mental illness in the legal profession.
“Our goal is to help remove that feeling of isolation,” said Summit County Probate Court Magistrate and Committee Member John Casalinuovo. “Our members try to find a way to reach out to these lawyers who may be reluctant to expose themselves.”
The Lawyers Assistance Committee was founded in 1980, and is one of many throughout the state that has been set up to help attorneys, judges and law students to get the help they need to repair their lives and their careers.
Statistics show there is a greater incidence of substance abuse problems among those working in the profession, which was one of the reasons local attorneys joined forces with the Akron Bar Association to create the committee.
Casalinuovo has served on the committee for about 20 years, and said this is his way of giving back to the community. “There is an old saying that to those who are given so much, much is expected.”
The committee has about 30 members, and although it does not provide treatment directly, Casalinuovo said members do discuss the options with clients, helping them with insurance coverage and other issues, to make things as easy as possible.
“The way it works is that we get the name of a potential client from a lawyer, judge or family member who believes the person may have an alcohol, drug or other problem,” Casalinuovo said. “The case is assigned to a member of our committee who has a connection to that person or may know him or her.
“The lawyer contacts the subject, and tries to determine if the person has a problem. If a problem exists, we work with the client to obtain a professional evaluation as well as figure out what type of treatment is appropriate, i.e., inpatient or outpatient.”
Those assigned to the cases never reveal the identity of their clients, and take a mentoring approach throughout the recovery process.
“We work together as a unit,” said Casalinuovo. “The most important period in this process is the initial moment of contact because it can be very difficult to break through the barriers. People often feel they are risking their careers by coming forward. We try to reassure them by focusing on the importance of recovery, which ultimately leads to long-term improvements in their lives.”
Akron criminal defense attorney, Albert Edward Bonetti, Jr., learned firsthand how much of a difference treatment can make. In 1994, he was arrested on drug charges.
“It was my bottom,” he said. But Bonetti said his life is now back on track after he received help from the Lawyers Assistance Committee. “They reached out to me when I was having problems, and helped me get into treatment.”
For more than 17 years, Bonetti has been volunteering his time to help others who may be in similar situations to the one he went through.
“For me having my problem become public made things easier, but everyone is different. I think it is difficult for attorneys to open up because they see themselves as solving other people’s problems. Clients come to them for help, and if they have problems, how can they help anyone else.
“I explain to my clients that they can’t do it alone. They have to want my help or it won’t work. When they do, I provide a roadmap that shows them where they are, where they want to go, and how to get there.”
For more information on the June 10-12 Founders’ Day events at The University of Akron, go to akronaa.org.