Downstate Page

James M. Radcliffe, Associate Director

Belleville, Illinois

My name is Jim Radcliffe and I am the Associate Director of the Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program.

This means that I am LAP’s ‘downstate’ guy. I am a retired judge and the only lawyer on the LAP staff.

After 20 years on the Bench in St. Clair County, I retired on December 31, 2007. I resigned from the Board of Directors of LAP and joined the staff on January 2, 2008. Prior to my service as a judge, I practiced law for 11 years. In addition to working for LAP, I practice in the area of ADR, primarily serving as a mediator in civil and family cases. I come to my work with LAP as a person in recovery with over 30 years experience as an attorney, judge and mediator.

For this inaugural ‘Downstate Page’, I think it is important to introduce myself to you. If you call me, you will have some idea of who the guy is at the other end of the phone.

LAP provides services to attorneys, judges, law students and their families. We have a large family of trained volunteers. These folks are attorneys and judges from all over the state, who bring to the table a wealth and breadth of varied experiences. I assure you that whatever issue you, a colleague, or loved one is facing, we have a volunteer who has trod that path. In fact, my experience provides me a basis of understanding, personally and professionally, of many of the issues facing my colleagues. We also have the ‘clinical’ connections for appropriate referrals.

We are blessed to practice a profession that allows us to help our fellow citizens in many ways. Practicing law is also, at times, very stressful. We sometimes don’t take care of ourselves as well as we care for our clients. How many times have we missed out on family time to meet that deadline?

I have always viewed the bar and bench as family. We are in this profession together and owe it to the profession, our clients and the public to be at our best. We have an obligation to look out for each other. Many of us ‘downstate’ practice solo or in small firms and the pressure can, at times, be enormous.

Any communication with LAP is strictly confidential. The scope of LAP’s services is broad. If you are wondering if LAP is a resource and safe harbor for you, your family or a colleague, we probably are. Or if you just want to chat with an old retired judge, call my cell 618.444.9706.

I plan on sharing thoughts on the ‘Downstate Page’ on a routine basis. If you have any thoughts or topics you wish to share with me, e-mail at jradcliffe@illinoislap.org or call the cell phone.