Page 294 - 2020OrientationBOG

Louisiana State Bar Association

Professional Programs Department

Committees & Entities

The Professional Programs Department provides staff assistance to the following LSBA
Committees & entities:
1. Practice Assistance and Improvement Committee
2. Client Assistance Fund Committee
3. La. Client Assistance Foundation (LCAF)
4. CLE Programs Committee
-Summer School Subcommittee
-Theme Subcommittee
5. Committee on the Profession
6. Legislation Committee
7. Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee
8. Rules of Professional Conduct Committee and its subcommittees
9. Ethics Advisory Service Committee
- Publications Subcommittee
10. Transitioning Lawyers Committee
11. Senior Lawyers Division
12. Insurance Committee

Practice Assistance and Improvement Program

The Practice Assistance and Improvement Committee is charged with preventing and
correcting lawyer misconduct and assisting victims of lawyer misconduct by evaluating,
developing and providing effective alternatives to discipline programs for minor offenses,
educational and practice assistance programs, and programs to resolve minor complaints and
lawyer/client disputes.
The LSBA’s Practice Assistance and Improvement Program offers “alternatives to
discipline” assistance to its members. Since implementation twenty years ago, the LSBA’s
Practice Assistance and Improvement Program is a resounding success. In the past lawyers were
formally sanctioned for minor violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct. This is not
necessarily the case any longer. Rather than tarnish a lawyer’s reputation and record with formal
public or private discipline, there are now alternatives to discipline.
The Practice Assistance and Improvement Program‘s two alternatives to discipline
programs - the Attorney-Client Assistance Program and the Diversion Program have been in
operation since September of 1998, after approval from the Louisiana Supreme Court providing
assistance to Louisiana lawyers. Disciplinary Counsel has the authority and discretion to refer
matters before or after investigation to the Practice Assistance and Improvement Program
administered by the LSBA. As of July 7, 2020, 6668 referrals have been received from the
Office of Disciplinary Counsel to both programs since September of 1998. Planning is
underway for the forty-third Ethics School, the chief component of the Diversion Program.

Attorney-Client Assistance Program
The Attorney-Client Assistance Program is a voluntary program aimed at facilitating the
prompt resolution of complaints about lawyer conduct. These complaints focus on minor
problems such as lawyer-client communications or relational matters not rising to a level of
ethical violations warranting investigation by Disciplinary Counsel. Disciplinary Counsel has the
discretion to refer matters to this program after screening the complaint.
When Disciplinary Counsel sends a complaint to the Attorney-Client Assistance
Program, the LSBA’s Practice Assistance Counsel will send a letter via fax to the respondent