Here at LESA, we rely on our dedicated and talented volunteers to keep our programs running smoothly.
Like LESA, the Alberta Lawyers’ Assistance Society (Assist) is a non-profit organization that relies on volunteers to make their programs a success. Assist is dedicated to providing confidential help with personal issues to lawyers, law students, and their immediate families.
One way Assist fulfills this mission is through the Peer Support program. The Peer Support program offers lawyers and law students the chance to receive or offer support to address personal and professional issues in a safe and confidential environment.
Here’s how it works.
Participants contact Assist and are matched with a Peer Support Volunteer who has shared a similar experience or can relate in some way. The volunteers help participants by sharing their knowledge and experience, whether practical, emotional, or social. Volunteers are available to talk, share resources, and provide encouragement.
Find out more about the program by reading Assist’s program brochure.
Interested in volunteering?
Volunteers are able to help others in need of emotional, personal, or career-related support. As a volunteer you receive training to explain your responsibilities and develop your helping skills. You can either accept or decline peer support matches based on your comfort level and previous experiences. While working as a Peer Support Volunteer, you are supported by Assist’s Peer Support program and professional psychological services.
Here’s what one volunteer had to say about the program, “The participant always initiated the calls. He seems happier now; he has a new job and a different life schedule” (Ms Barbara Stratton QC).
Get Involved
If you’re interested in helping others gain the satisfaction Stratton describes, consider becoming a Peer Support Volunteer. To volunteer contact Assist at 403.537.5508 (toll free at 1.877.737.5508) or submit an online application form.
The next Peer Support training sessions run in Calgary on March 14 and Edmonton on March 21. By attending, you’ll be prepared to start volunteering and helping your peers.
If you’re a lawyer or law student in need of support, contact Assist at 403.537.5508 (toll free at 1.877.737.5508) to be matched with a Peer Support Volunteer.
