Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Lawyer Assistance Program? It is a confidential program of assistance, funded by the State Bar, for all North Carolina Lawyers and Judges.
What is the relation between the LAP and the Bar's discipline function? The LAP is an entirely separate program from discipline. They have entirely different functions. Discipline is reactive; it responds to ethical breaches. The LAP is preventive. The LAP seeks to provide assistance for personal problems a lawyer may have that if not addressed could lead to the lawyer becoming involved in the discipline process. All communications with the LAP are confidential and protected by Rule 1.6 of the Revised Rules of Professional Conduct. Discipline has no access to LAP files or communications.
What is PALS? PALS is a committee of peer counselor volunteers of the Lawyer Assistance Program who have experience and/or expertise in confidentially assisting lawyers dealing with problems of alcoholism and other drug addictions.
What is FRIENDS? FRIENDS is a committee of peer counselor volunteers of the Lawyer Assistance Program who have experience and/or expertise in confidentially assisting lawyers dealing with problems of depression or other mental health disorders.
If I contact the LAP will anything I tell the LAP be disclosed to the discipline? No, only if the LAP is advocating on your behalf with discipline and you have given your permission for the disclosure.
How do I get confidential assistance from the Lawyer Assistance Program? Call Don Carroll at 1-800-720-7257, Ed Ward at 1-877-627-3743, or Towanda Garner at 1-877-570-0991.