RULES OF THE ARKANSAS JUDGES AND LAWYERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ARJLAP)
Rule 1. Scope of program.
(A) Establishment. There is hereby established a state-wide lawyer assistance program to be known as Arkansas Lawyer Assistance Program (or "ALAP") which shall provide immediate and continuing help to lawyers and judges (hereinafter 'members of the legal profession') who suffer from physical or mental disabilities that result from disease, substance abuse, disorder, trauma, or age and that impair their ability to practice or serve.
(B) Purpose. ALAP has three purposes:
(1) to protect the interests of clients, litigants, and the general public from harm caused by impaired lawyers or judges;
(2) to assist impaired members of the legal profession to begin and continue recovery; and
(3) to educate the bench and bar to the causes of and remedies for impairments affecting members of the legal profession.
(C)(1) Funding and Administration. The Supreme Court of Arkansas shall collect annually and remit to ALAP a fifteen dollar ($15.00) annual fee from every attorney for the purpose of funding this program.
(2) Funding for ALAP may also include gifts or bequests from any source and earnings on investments of the ALAP fund.
History. Adopted January 1, 2001
Rule 2. ALAP committee.
(A) Members. The Arkansas Supreme Court shall appoint committee members to administer the ALAP. Officers of the committee shall consist of a chair, vice chair, and secretary/treasurer. The chair shall be appointed by the Supreme Court. Each of the other officers shall be elected by the members of the committee annually.
(B) Composition. The committee shall consist of nine (9) members, chosen on the basis of geography and diversity and shall include three (3) citizens who are not members of the legal profession. The members shall have diverse experience, knowledge and shall have demonstrated competence in the problems of addiction and other common difficulties that impair members of the legal profession.
(C) Terms. Each appointment shall be for a term of six years, unless otherwise designated by the Supreme Court. Members may not be appointed to successive six-year terms. Terms shall be staggered. Vacancies occurring from causes other than expiration of term of office will be filled by the Supreme Court as they occur, and the person so appointed shall serve the remainder of the term of his or her predecessor. Members shall continue to serve beyond their designated term until such time as their successor is qualified and appointed by the Court.
(D) Duties of the Committee. The committee shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To establish ALAP policy and procedures consistent with the purposes of this program. Such policies and procedures shall be established after reasonable notice to the Arkansas bench and bar and opportunity for comment.
(2) To operate the program to achieve its purposes.
(3) To assure the duties listed under Rule 3 are carried out in the absence of a director of the program.
(4) To establish and administer a revolving loan fund as provided under Rule 9.
(5) To make reports to the Arkansas Supreme Court annually or as otherwise required.
(E) Meetings. The committee shall meet quarterly, upon call of the chair or upon the request of five (5) or more members.
History. Adopted January 1, 2001
Rule 3. Director of the program.
(A) Appointment/Hire. The committee shall hire the ALAP director with the consent of the Supreme Court, and the director shall serve at the pleasure of the Court. The committee shall oversee and supervise the work of the director.
(B) Qualifications. The director shall have sufficient experience and training to enable the director to identify and assist impaired members of the legal profession and to work well with the volunteers.
(C) Duties and Responsibility. The director shall:
(1) Provide initial response to help-line calls.
(2) Help lawyers, judges, law firms, courts, and others to identify and intervene with impaired members of the legal profession.
(3) Help members of the legal profession and their families to secure expert counseling and treatment for chemical dependency and otherillnesses, maintaining current information on available treatment services, both those that are available without charge as well as paid services.
(4) Establish and maintain regular contact with other bar associations, agencies, and committees that serve either as sources of referral or resources in providing help.
(5) Establish and oversee monitoring services with respect to recovery of members of the legal profession for whom monitoring is appropriate under Rules 5(E) or 7.
(6) Plan and deliver educational programs for the legal community with respect to all sources of potential impairment as well as treatment and preventative measures.
(7) Provide information about ALAP services to members of the legal profession and their families.
(8) Recruit, select, train, and coordinate the activities of volunteers.
(9) Investigate other potential sources of income pursuant to Rule 1(C)(2).
History. Adopted January 1, 2001
Rule 4. Volunteers.
The program shall enlist volunteers working in conjunction with the Arkansas Bar Association, whose responsibility may include:
(A) assisting in interventions planned by ALAP;
(B) acting as twelve-step program sponsors;
(C) acting as a contact between ALAP and courts, bar organizations, and local committees;
(D) providing compliance monitoring when appropriate; or
(E) performing any other function deemed appropriate and necessary by the committee to fulfill its purposes.
History. Adopted January 1, 2001
Rule 5. Services.
ALAP shall provide the following services:
(A) immediate and continuing assistance to members of the legal profession who suffer from physical or mental disabilities that result from disease, substance abuse disorder, trauma, or age and that impair their ability to practice;
(B) planning and presentation of educational programs to increase the awareness and understanding of members of the legal profession to recognize problems in themselves and in their colleagues; to identify the problems correctly; to reduce stigma; and, to convey an understanding of appropriate ways of interacting with affected individuals;
(C) investigation, planning, and participation in interventions with members of the legal profession in need of assistance;
(D) aftercare services upon request, by order, or under contract that may include the following: assistance in structuring aftercare and discharge planning; assistance for entry into appropriate aftercare and professional peer support meetings; and assistance in obtaining a primary care physical or local peer counselor; and
(E) monitoring services under Rule 7 or under contract that may include the following: alcohol and/or drug screening programs; tracking aftercare, peer support and twelve-step meeting attendance; providing documentation of compliance; and providing such reports concerning compliance by those participating in a monitoring program as may be required by the terms of that program.
History. Adopted January 1, 2001
Rule 6. Referrals.
(A) Self-referral. Any member of the legal profession may seek assistance from ALAP.
(B) Other Referrals. ALAP shall receive referrals concerning any member of the legal profession from family members, colleagues, friends, law firms, or any other source.
History. Adopted January 1, 2001
Rule 7. Referrals from the Professional Conduct Committee, Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, or other disciplinary agencies.
(A) Referrals. ALAP may accept referral of lawyers or judges under investigational, provisional, or probational status with the Arkansas Professional Conduct Committee, Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, or any disciplinary agency with disciplinary authority.
(B) Progress Reports. When ALAP accepts a referral under Rule 7(A), ALAP shall provide progress reports or reports of non-compliance. Notwithstanding Rule 10, these reports may be used as evidence in any proceeding or appeal relating to such referral from the Arkansas Professional Conduct Committee, the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, or adisciplinary agency with disciplinary authority.
History. Adopted January 1, 2001
Rule 8. Cooperation with local bar programs.
ALAP shall coordinate its activities with local impaired lawyer programs.
History. Adopted January 1, 2001
Rule 9. Revolving loan fund.
From the funds received under Rule 1, ALAP may establish a revolving loan fund. Such fund shall be made available to impaired lawyers and judges under rules and regulations established by the Committee, as a low interest loan for the purposes of defraying the cost of treatment.
History. Adopted January 1, 2001; amended January 29, 2004
Rule 10. Confidentiality and immunity.
Information and actions taken by ALAP shall be held in the strictest confidence and shall not be disclosed or required to be disclosed to any person or entity outside of ALAP, unless such disclosure is authorized by the member of the legal profession to whom it relates or as provided in Rule 7(B) hereof, Arkansas Model Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 8.3(d) and (e), or Arkansas Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3D(4) and (5). Except as provided in Rule 7(B), Model Rule 8.3(d) and (e) or Canon 3D(4) and (5), such information and actions shall be excluded as evidence in any complaint, investigation, or proceeding before the Arkansas Professional Conduct Committee, Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, or disciplinary agency with jurisdiction.
Committee members, employees, and agents including volunteers recruited under Rule 4 are relieved of the duty of disclosure of information to authorities as imposed by Rule 8.3 of the Arkansas Model Rules of Professional Conduct and Canon 3D of the Arkansas Code of Judicial Conduct except as provided for in Model Rule 8.3(d) and (e) and Canon 3D(4) and (5).
Committee members and employees of the committee are absolutely immune from suit or action for their activities in discharge of their duties hereunder to the full extent of judicial immunity in Arkansas.
History. Adopted January 1, 2001; amended December 1, 2005
Rule 11. Facility.
The ALAP office shall be so located as to be consistent with the privacy and confidentiality requirements of this rule.
History. Adopted January 1, 2001
Rule 12. Program review.
ALAP shall be reviewed annually by the Arkansas Supreme Court and shall cease to exist on December 31, 2006 unless the Arkansas Supreme Court provides otherwise.
History. Adopted January 1, 2001