Basic facts:

• 18 to 25 percent of lawyers suffer from addiction or mental illness.
• The largest obstacle in getting a lawyer appropriate help is Financial.
• At least 75 percent of Alabama lawyers who contact ALAP in need of help are denied immediate access because
  they are financial incapable of paying for it.
• With appropriate treatment lawyers do recover and return as valuable members of their profession, community
  and families.

Purpose of the Foundation:

• To ensure that lawyers suffering from these illnesses, who want help, are not denied access to treatment because
  they cannot afford to pay.
• The goal is to raise at least $500,000 and establish a revolving loan program to enable lawyers in need of help access
  to immediate treatment.
• Anticipated success rate for the loan program is 75 percent enabling funds to be available for the next lawyer in need.

How the program will be managed:

• No overhead cost.
• All money raised will go directly to the fund to be available for individual lawyers in need of treatment.
• Fund distribution will be based on need and the individual lawyer's desire for help. Lawyers will be required to
  complete an application process.
• No funds will be paid to individual lawyers rather funds will be paid directly to treatment care providers.

How does this affect you?

• 40-75 percent of discipline cases involve a chemically dependent or mentally ill practitioner.
• 80 percent of Client Security Fund cases involve chemical dependency, gambling or mental illness issues.
• 85 percent of malpractice actions involve a chemically dependent or mentally ill practitioner.
• These individual lawyers are in need of help are the colleagues you see in court, partners with whom you share
  space and many times former classmates.
• "They are us" and if we don't help who will?

» Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee Memebers 2004-2005

» Alabama Lawyer Assistance Foundation Board of Directors

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