Tim Bertschy, the Managing Partner of Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, P.C., will begin his term as president of the Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program’s (LAP) Board of Directors tomorrow, Nov. 15.

“Tim’s dedication to the Illinois Legal Community is extraordinary. LAP as it is today would not exist without his advocacy. He was one of the original architects of the funding that LAP receives from the Illinois Supreme Court. We’re excited to have Tim as the President of the LAP Board of Directors to continue promoting wellness for the Illinois Legal Community,” said Robin Belleau, LAP executive director.

Bertschy’s experience includes past president of LAP, serving on the ABA House of Delegates for over 15 years, past president of the Illinois State Bar Association, chairing the ABA Standing Committee on Publishing Oversight, United States District Court Advisory Committee on Local Rules (Central District, Illinois), commissioner of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC), board member of the Illinois Bar Foundation, co-chair of the Illinois Legal Needs Study II, and former president of the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, Illinois Chapter of the American Judicature Society, Illinois Coalition for Equal Justice, Illinois Township Attorneys Association, and American Counsel Association, and co-chair of the Prairie State Legal Services Campaign for Legal Services committee.

“The practice of law can be extremely stressful,” Bertschy said. “We know that anxiety, depression and substance abuse are especially prevalent in the legal profession. During my term as LAP president, I will first focus on spreading the word that LAP is here to help lawyers, judges, and law students around the state, and I will make a special effort to reach downstate lawyers now that we have a Bloomington location. Second, I would like to use my position as a pulpit to encourage people to take that first step, which is to overcome the stigma of seeking treatment.”