Since 2003, the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Court System have offered employee assistance programs (EAP) to court employees and judicial officials at no charge. All employees, including judges and justices, are eligible to access confidential wellness, management consultation, financial and legal referral services through Kepro, the state’s employee assistance provider.
EAP services are available to all employees, any household member and dependents, and offer comprehensive, confidential consulting in the areas of stress and mental health, family and relationship concerns, and substance abuse dependency. In addition, legal referrals and financial and management consulting services are available.
Kepro also provides group onsite and remote interactive learning opportunities on a wide variety of wellness and workplace topics. If you are a manager and would like your department to receive a training presentation on a wellness, family or workplace topic, please send an email to human.resources@wicourts.gov.
All employees, including justice and judges, can reach our employee assistance program by calling 833-539-7285 or 877-334-0489 (TTY) to speak to a trained crisis counselor or by visiting the website at https://sowi.mylifeexpert.com and reviewing the instructions to navigate the site and create an account. The “company code” is SOWI.
A handout describing EAP services is available on CourtNet here.
In addition to the services provided by Kepro, justices, judges and legal professionals can also utilize the Wisconsin State Bar of Wisconsin’s Lawyer Assistance Program (WisLAP). WisLAP offers assistance in the areas of well-being, substance abuse disorders, mental health trainings, continuing education, and peer-to-peer support.
Legal professionals can reach WisLAP at (800) 543-2625 or callwislap@wisbar.org. More information on WisLAP and related resources is available here.
In 2020, the State Bar convened a Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being, which included a Judicial Subcommittee. A copy of the task force’s 2021 report, “Changing the Climate of Wisconsin’s Legal Profession” can be found here, along with links to a number of additional assistance resources. Members of the Committee of Chief Judges, including Chief Judge Jennifer R. Dorow, Waukesha County Circuit Court; Chief Judge Guy D. Dutcher Waushara County Circuit Court; and Chief Judge Mary Triggiano, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, have joined the subcommittee to examine the feasibility of implementing subcommittee recommendations.
Third Branch eNews is an online monthly newsletter of the Director of State Courts Office. If you are interested in contributing an article about your department’s programs or accomplishments, contact your department head. Information about judicial retirements and judicial obituaries may be submitted to: Sara.Foster@wicourts.gov