About the Program
Kentucky Supreme Court Rules 3.900 through 3.995 establish and implement the Kentucky Lawyer Assistance Program (KYLAP). KYLAP is a broad-brush program involving assistance for impairment that may result from addiction to intoxication or drugs, chemical dependency, substance abuse, mental disease, mental disorder or defect, psychological or emotional illness that impairs, or may foreseeably impair, a person’s ability to practice law or serve on the bench. Services are available for law students, lawyers and judges. The mission and purpose of KYLAP is to address impairment or potential impairment issues within the Kentucky legal community and to offer confidential assistance to those who are affected in a manner that serves to help insure a continuing high standard of professional competence. Strict confidentiality is assured by SCR 3.990.
KYLAP's Website
Let KYLAP Help!
KYLAP and its volunteers recognize that alcoholism and other substance use disorders, addictive behavior and psychological problems are treatable illnesses rather than moral issues. Our collective volunteer experience has shown that asking for help is the first step to recovery. If you or someone you care about in Kentucky's legal community is experiencing problems related to alcohol or other substance use disorders, process addictions like compulsive gambling, depression, chronic anxiety or other psychological problems, please contact KYLAP. We can offer peer support or provide references to professionals who can offer confidential assistance.
Self Referral and Third Party Referral
The primary objective of KYLAP in these referrals is to assist the impaired or potentially impaired members of the Kentucky legal community in their recovery in a safe, secure and totally confidential forum. Confidentiality is assured. SCR 3.990 reads, in pertinent part:
"All communications to KYLAP, all information gathered, records maintained and actions taken by KYLAP, shall be kept confidential by KYLAP’s staff and volunteers; shall not be disclosed by KYLAP to any person or entity, including any agency of the Court and any department of the Association; and shall be excluded as evidence in any civil, criminal or administrative proceeding and in any proceeding before the Court, the Board of Governors or the Office of Bar Admissions, except that:
(a) if the person who is the subject of KYLAP’s assistance has provided a written release authorizing disclosure of communications to KYLAP or information gathered, records maintained or actions taken by KYLAP. KYLAP may disclose such information in strict accordance with the terms and conditions of that written release."
Agency Referral
If an individual member of the legal community has signed an authorization allowing the communication, KYLAP can offer assistance to the Office of Bar Admissions, the Inquiry Commission, and the Office of Bar Counsel in formulating a strategy to assist the impaired member in order to maintain a continuing high standard of professional competence for the protection of the public. This assistance may include referral to medical or mental health care and treatment including for alcohol and substance use disorders, professional monitoring, and also creating a unique plan to assist in the recovery of the individual member under the supervision of the KYLAP staff and a KYLAP Volunteer member, who is also an attorney with lived experience in issues of impairment.
Supreme Court Referral
KYLAP, after final disposition by the Court, accepts appropriate tasks and responsibilities, and will provide assistance in accordance with the Courts’ Order.