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attorneys to initiate contact with a volunteer spot mentor on the numerous questions a lawyer out
in the practice 2-7 years may encounter.

Examples of possible Spot Mentoring categories are Career Development (firm culture,
time management, work/life management, receiving feedback, seeking opportunities internally
and externally); Legal Practice Skills (writing, oral communication, negotiation, technical skills);
Professionalism (ethics, civility, integrity, elimination of bias, system equity); Practice
Development (networking, thought leadership, client entertainment, external involvement);
Client Service/Management (business solutions, responsiveness, articulating client value,
counseling clients); and Family/Work Integration at Dykema (parental leave, working parents,
eldercare, family resources).

The LSBA Spot Mentoring program gives 2-7 year lawyers seeking advice, guidance or
information the ability to post questions in their areas of interest. Spot mentor or mentors can
reply to the inquiry by email. If the Spot mentor lawyer agrees, the parties can even meet (in
person, via telephone or electronically) – probably just once – to discuss the topic raised by the
inquiring lawyer.

Wellness Wednesdays
This new 1 hour program at the Bar Center was implemented in March 2019. This
is a low cost ($10.00) 1 hour health & wellness CLE program. Feedback about the
program has been extremely positive.

Client Assistance Fund

The Client Assistance Fund is a public service of the legal profession in Louisiana and
was created in 1962 to compensate clients who lose money due to a lawyer’s dishonest conduct.

Types of losses covered
Basically, the fund can reimburse clients up to $25,000 for thefts by a lawyer. It covers
money or property lost because a lawyer was dishonest (not because the lawyer acted
incompetently or failed to take a certain action). To qualify for the fund, clients must be able to
show that the money or property came into the lawyer’s hands.
The fund does not pay interest nor does it pay for any damages done as a result of losing
your money. For example, if a lawyer takes money that should have been used to prevent a
foreclosure on your house, the fund can repay you for the lost money but not the lost house.
The fund will reimburse fees only in limited cases. If the lawyer did no work, fees may
be covered by the fund. Fees are not reimbursable simply because someone is dissatisfied with
the services or because the work was not completed. For example, if the lawyer consulted with
the client and/or appeared in court on the client’s behalf, prepared correspondence or reviewed
and filed documents, fees may not be reimbursable under the fund’s rules.
Almost anyone who has lost money due to a lawyer’s dishonesty can apply for
reimbursement. You do not have to be a United State citizen. However, if you are the spouse or
other close relative of the lawyer in question, or the lawyer’s business partner, employer or
employee, or a business controlled by the lawyer, the fund will not pay you reimbursement.
Also, the fund will not reimburse for losses suffered by government entities or agencies.

Who decides if an application will be paid?
The Client Assistance Fund Committee decides whether you qualify for reimbursement
from the fund, and, if so, whether part or all of your application will be paid. The committee is
not obligated to pay any claim; disbursements from the fund are at the sole discretion of the
committee. The committee is made up of volunteer lawyers who investigate all claims. The
Committee Chair establishes panels of committee members to review claims and render written
reports regarding pending claims. Panel recommendations are reviewed by the full Committee.