ORS 9.568
State lawyers assistance committee

  • personal and practice management assistance committees
  • rules
  • confidentiality
  • civil immunity

(1)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The board of governors of the Oregon State Bar may create a state lawyers assistance committee for the purpose of implementing a lawyers assistance program and, pursuant thereto, authorize the state lawyers assistance committee to investigate and resolve complaints or referrals regarding lawyers whose performance or conduct may impair their ability to practice law or their professional competence.

(b)

The board may adopt rules for the operation of the state lawyers assistance committee.

(c)

The purpose of the state lawyers assistance committee is the provision of supervision and assistance to those lawyers whose performance or conduct may impair their ability to practice law or their professional competence.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

In addition to the state lawyers assistance committee created under subsection (1) of this section, the board may create personal and practice management assistance committees to provide assistance to lawyers who are suffering from impairment or other circumstances that may adversely affect professional competence or conduct. Personal and practice management assistance committees may also provide advice and training to lawyers in practice management.

(b)

The board may adopt rules governing the provision of assistance to lawyers by personal and practice management assistance committees.

(c)

The purpose of a personal and practice management assistance committee is the provision of completely confidential assistance, advice and training to lawyers in a manner that fosters maximum openness in communications between a lawyer and the committee and that encourages a lawyer to seek assistance from the committee.

(3)

Any information provided to or obtained by the state lawyers assistance committee or any personal and practice management assistance committee, or provided to or obtained by any agent of those committees, is:

(a)

Confidential;

(b)

Exempt from the provisions of ORS 192.311 (Definitions for ORS 192.311 to 192.478) to 192.478 (Exemption for Judicial Department);

(c)

Not discoverable or admissible in any civil proceeding without the written consent of the lawyer to whom the information pertains; and

(d)

Not discoverable or admissible in any disciplinary proceeding except to the extent provided by rules of procedure adopted pursuant to ORS 9.542 (Rules for investigation of attorneys and applicants).

(4)

The limitations placed on the disclosure and admissibility of information in this section shall not apply to information relating to a lawyer’s noncooperation with the state lawyers assistance committee or any agent of the committee, or to information otherwise obtained by the bar from any other source.

(5)

The board may authorize the state lawyers assistance committee to act as the monitor or supervisor for lawyers placed on probation or in diversion in connection with a disciplinary investigation or proceeding, or who have been conditionally admitted or reinstated to the practice of law. Any information provided to or obtained by the state lawyers assistance committee when the committee acts as a monitor or supervisor under the provisions of this subsection is not subject to subsection (3) of this section.

(6)

All meetings of the state lawyers assistance committee and the personal and practice management assistance committees are exempt from the provisions of ORS 192.610 (Definitions for ORS 192.610 to 192.690) to 192.690 (Exceptions to ORS 192.610 to 192.690).

(7)

Any person who makes a complaint or referral to the bar as to the competence of an attorney or provides information or testimony in connection with the state lawyers assistance committee or any personal and practice management assistance committee is not subject to an action for civil damages as a result thereof.

(8)

With respect to their acts in connection with the state lawyers assistance committee or any personal and practice management assistance committee, the same privileges and immunities from civil and criminal proceedings that apply to prosecuting and judicial officers of the state shall apply to the board, all officers and employees of the bar, and the members of the committees and their agents.

(9)

For the purposes of this section, agents of the state lawyers assistance committee or a personal and practice management assistance committee include investigators, attorneys, counselors, staff personnel and any other individual or entity acting on behalf of or at the request of the committees. [Formerly 9.545; 2005 c.347 §3]

Source: Section 9.568 — State lawyers assistance committee; personal and practice management assistance committees; rules; confidentiality; civil immunity, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors009.­html.

Law Review Citations

Under former similar statute (ORS 9.595)

18 WLR 313 (1982)

9.005
Definitions for ORS 9.005 to 9.757
9.006
Authority of Supreme Court
9.010
Status of attorney and Oregon State Bar
9.025
Board of governors
9.030
Voting rights
9.040
Election of governors
9.042
Determination of eligibility of candidate for board of governors
9.050
Recall or removal of governors
9.055
Chief executive officer
9.060
President, president-elect and immediate past president
9.070
Duties of president and president-elect
9.080
Duties and authority of bar and of board of governors
9.090
Appropriation and disbursement of funds
9.100
Statement of financial condition
9.110
Board of governors to formulate rules
9.112
Board of governors to establish minimum continuing legal education requirements
9.114
Mandatory training on duties relating to reporting child abuse and abuse of elderly persons
9.136
House of delegates created
9.139
Powers of house of delegates
9.142
Rules for conduct of business
9.145
Public members
9.148
Participation by nondelegates
9.150
Termination of delegate’s term
9.152
Election of delegates
9.155
Recall of delegate
9.160
Bar membership required to practice law
9.162
Definitions for ORS 9.160 to 9.166
9.164
Investigation of alleged violation of ORS 9.160
9.166
Enjoining practicing law without a license
9.180
Classes of membership
9.191
Annual membership fees
9.200
Effect of failure to pay membership fees
9.210
Board of bar examiners
9.220
General requirements for admission
9.241
Practice of law by attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions
9.242
Advice on law of foreign jurisdiction
9.250
Order for admission
9.261
Resignation of attorney
9.280
Prohibition on acting as immigration consultant
9.310
Attorney defined
9.320
Necessity for employment of attorney
9.330
Authority of attorney
9.340
Challenge by party of attorney’s authority to appear for party
9.350
Challenge of attorney’s authority to appear for adverse party
9.360
Compelling delivery by attorney of money or papers
9.370
Compelling delivery when attorney claims lien
9.380
Changing attorneys and terminating attorney-client relationship
9.390
Notice of change or termination
9.460
Duties of attorneys
9.490
Formulation of rules of professional conduct
9.500
Solicitation of personal injury business by nonlawyer
9.505
Payment for referring claims resulting from personal injury or death
9.510
Solicitation by attorneys
9.515
Referral of claims, suits or actions between attorneys
9.520
Acceptance and prosecution of solicited claims
9.527
Grounds for disbarment, suspension or reprimand
9.528
Advice on conducting covert operations
9.529
Status of proceedings relating to discipline, admission or reinstatement
9.532
State professional responsibility board
9.534
Disciplinary board
9.536
Disciplinary board decision
9.537
Civil immunity of witnesses, bar officials and employees
9.539
Application to admission and reinstatement proceedings
9.542
Rules for investigation of attorneys and applicants
9.555
Copy of complaint or notice to Attorney General when bar is plaintiff or defendant
9.565
Tax return information from Department of Revenue
9.568
State lawyers assistance committee
9.572
Bar to establish Legal Services Program
9.576
Review of providers
9.578
Funding sources
9.582
Use of amounts not paid to class members in class action lawsuits
9.615
Definition for ORS 9.615 to 9.665
9.625
Plan to relieve client losses
9.635
Sources of client security fund
9.645
Annual payment by state bar members
9.655
Investigation of claim of loss
9.657
Immunity from civil liability
9.665
Authority for reimbursement of client
9.675
Mandatory certification and disclosures for lawyer trust accounts
9.685
Trust account overdraft notification program
9.688
Circuit court jurisdiction to determine entitlement to property in lawyer trust account
9.695
Status of files or work premises of lawyer
9.705
Definitions for ORS 9.705 to 9.757
9.710
Jurisdiction of circuit court over law practice of nonperforming attorney
9.715
Petition to take jurisdiction over law practice
9.720
Court taking jurisdiction over law practice
9.725
Appointment of bar or other attorney as custodian of law practice
9.727
Service of order of custodianship
9.730
Assistance by professional liability fund and other attorneys
9.735
Compensation of custodian
9.740
Court orders appealable
9.745
Statutes of limitation suspended
9.750
Confidentiality of files and records
9.755
Final report of custodian
9.757
Retention of client materials
9.760
Judicial department library services
9.780
Exchange of legal publications
9.790
Legislative Counsel furnishing copies of codes and session laws for exchange
9.800
Sale of surplus codes and session laws
9.815
County law libraries and law library services
9.820
Law libraries in Multnomah County
9.825
Law library surveys
9.829
Use of moneys distributed to counties
9.990
Penalties
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