Purpose | Members | Staff Contacts
Purpose
JLAP offers help to judges, attorneys, and law students who experience physical or mental disabilities that result from disease, chemical dependency, mental health problems, or age, which may impair these individuals' ability to practice in a competent and professional manner. Help varies with an individual's needs or a particular case, but ranges from information and referral to assistance with organization of an intervention. In addition, JLAP provides education to the bench and bar on relevant issues. The purpose of this committee is to guide the development of JLAP programs and initiatives.
Because of the sensitive nature of mental health and substance use issues, law students, attorneys, or judges who need help—or want to assist someone else who might need help—are often reluctant to seek assistance. Recognizing this concern, and in order to foster early and confidential contact, the Indiana Supreme Court authorized the creation of JLAP with the passage of Rule 31 of the Indiana Rules on Admission to the Bar and Discipline of Attorneys.