Listening to Lawyers Podcast

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​Listening to Lawyers, an audio project of the Wisconsin Lawyers Assistance Program (WisLAP), features Wisconsin Lawyers sharing personal stories of the unexpected challenges that have shaped them.  Theirs are stories of struggle, resilience, persistence, and creative and brave navigation through challenging territory while lawyering. 

Hosted by Amber Ault, Ph.D, MSW, manager for the Wisconsin Lawyer Assistance Program, listeners say they are surprised, touched, and inspired by what they learn from Listening to Lawyers.

The Wisconsin Lawyers Assistance Program (WisLAP) offers confidential support to lawyers, judges, law students, and other legal professionals as a benefit of State Bar membership. WisLAP staff can answer questions about mental health and substance use, provide guidance on well-being practices, and match members with attorneys trained in peer support. To contact WisLAP staff: Call (800) 543-2625 or email callwislap@wisbar.org. ​​

Find more podcasts: Visit wisbar.org/podcasts

Contact us: Have ideas for a topic or guest? Email podcasts@wisbar.org

Episodes
Episode 2: Drinking Behind Closed Doors, After Billable Hours - Attorney April Toy's Recovery Story

In this episode of Listening to Lawyers, trial attorney April Toy shares her personal journey with alcoholism and recovery. Growing up on a rural California farm, April faced numerous challenges before finding her path to law.

She discusses her early experiences with alcohol, the tipping point that led her to seek help, and her journey through Alcoholics Anonymous. April emphasizes the importance of sharing her story to break the stigma surrounding alcoholism and hopes to inspire others facing similar struggles.

Listening to Lawyers is a special project of the State Bar of Wisconsin's Lawyer Assistance Program (WisLAP). The podcast is hosted by WisLAP Program Manager Amber Ault.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Listening to Lawyers 00:29 Meet April Toy: A Journey to Law 12:16 The Role of Alcohol in April's Life 21:20 The Tipping Point: Acknowledging the Problem 30:17 Finding Recovery: The AA Experience 38:30 The Impact of Being a Lawyer on Recovery 39:52 Sharing the Story: Breaking the Stigma​