PLEASE HELP US MAKE THE 2008 FLA WORKSHOP BETTER BY TAKING A SHORT SURVEY.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY

Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc. is the non-profit corporation which was created in 1986 in response to the Florida Supreme Court's mandate that the Bar create or fund a program to identify and offer assistance to its members (Bar Rule 2-9.11). Paramount to FLA is the protection of confidentiality for those attorneys, judges, and law students who contact FLA for help. Confidentiality is protected by Bar Rule 3-7.1(j), by a written contract with The Florida Bar which guarantees the confidentiality of FLA records, and by Ch. 397.482, F.S. (2001). Judges, attorneys, and law students who seek the assistance of FLA need not worry that FLA will report them to the Bar, the Board of Bar Examiners, or their employer. Information is shared with these entities only if the participating individual signs a waiver of confidentiality. FLA's primary purpose is to assist the impaired attorney or future attorney in his or her recovery.

Peer Support Meetings

In an effort to effect that purpose, FLA, through its over 300 recovering volunteer attorneys, has promoted the formation of over 20 support groups throughout Florida for lawyers, judges, and law students in recovery or who wish to learn more about the recovery process. These groups meet at a designated location each week for approximately one hour. Recovering attorneys and law students, or those who are interested in entering the recovery process, are invited to attend whether or not they have disciplinary or bar admission problems. Particular issues affecting the recovering lawyer and the maintenance of their recovery while contending with the pressures and ethical questions inherent in the practice of law or the bar admission process are regularly discussed. The groups are completely confidential, and no record of attendance or issues raised is reported to FLA or to the Bar (unless required by terms of probation or conditional admission).

For those legal professionals who suffer from impairments other than substance abuse, such as depression, bi-polar disorder, or other compulsive disorders, FLA also sponsors weekly facilitated support meetings. These meetings are run by licensed mental health professionals to whom a nominal fee is paid by the participants. As with the chemical dependency support meetings, the groups are confidential unless reporting is a requirement of probation or conditional admission.

Students in Recovery Listserv

A listserv has been developed by the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP) to provide a confidential vehicle for law students who want to get or stay sober while in law school. It is a chance for them to ask questions of their peers throughout the United States and share their experience, strength and hope. To be added, the students should e-mail CoLAP's Director, Donna Spilis, directly at spilisd@staff.abanet.org. Students should  be prepared to provide Ms. Spilis with a summary of their history  and the reasons they wish to communicate with other students facing similar challenges. Ms. Spilis will provide the student with the listsev policies, and will ask them to send an introductory message to the listserv as soon as they receive confirmation that they have been added to Students in Recovery. When a student is admitted to the bar, they will notify Ms. Spilis and be removed from the list.

Board of Bar Examiners

While not an agency of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, FLA has developed a cooperative relationship with the staff of that agency and its members. That relationship includes education of board members regarding chemical and psychological impairments, treatments for the same, development of monitoring and probation protocols which permit admission of applicants with a history of impairment, orientation presentations at the various law schools, and a presentation by a Board member at the annual FLA Workshop in July.

As a result of its acceptance of chemical and psychological impairments as treatable illnesses, the Board was one of the first in the U.S. to permit conditional admissions of applicants with a history of chemical dependency, psychiatric diagnoses, or criminal justice issues resulting from such conditions. The term "conditional admission" has no effect on an attorney's scope of practice or authority, but only on the probationary terms with which the lawyer must comply for the period set by the Board. Such conditions may include attendance at a specified number of lawyer support or 12 Step meetings, monitoring by another attorney or mental health practitioner, and random urinalysis testing. The order of conditional admission is confidential, and conditional admittees are listed as "members in good standing" upon admission to The Florida Bar.

The key to obtaining a recommendation for conditional admission if a history of chemical or psychological impairment exists is absolute honesty, candor, and completeness when preparing and filing the application for admission, together with a demonstration that the prior condition is being adequately addressed and treated (a relationship with FLA can be crucial in this regard). The Board is attempting to determine who you are based on your personal history, your undergraduate and law school experiences, and your preparation of the application. Demonstrating your present candor and honesty by providing everything on your application, including incidents about which you are embarrassed, or believe may jeopardize your chance of admission, or believe the Board will not discover, provides you with the best chance that a recommendation for a conditional admission will be authorized by the Board. Leaving something off the application in the hope the Board will not discover it (which it is guaranteed they will) makes almost certain that the recommendation will be against admission.

Florida Lawyers Assistance is available to answer your questions regarding the bar application, admissions process, or the conditional admission procedure. FLA also maintains a referral listing of attorneys who specialize in representing applicants before the Board, and who understand and work cooperatively with FLA.

PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY OR THAT OF THE INDIVIDUAL ABOUT WHOM YOU ARE CALLING WILL BE PROTECTED.

How to Reach FLA

FLA Attorney Support Group Meetings

(Substance Abuse)

FLA Facilitated Group Meetings

(Psychological/Dual Diagnosis)

Upcoming Events

Legal & Recovery Resources:

Other sites which you may find interesting:

Return to FLA Home Page

Member American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs