Rule 1 - Establishment of Maine Assistance Program for Lawyers and Judges (MAP)A. There is hereby established a state-wide lawyer assistance program to be known as Maine Assistance Program for Lawyers and Judges (or "MAP") which shall provide immediate and continuing help to lawyers and judges (hereinafter "Members of the legal profession") and University of Maine School of Law students and applicants for admission to the Bar of the State of Maine (hereinafter "students/applicants") who suffer from the effects of chemical dependency or mental conditions that result from disease, disorder, trauma or other infirmity and that impair their ability to practice law or serve in a judicial capacity.B. Purpose: MAP has three purposes: (1) To protect the interests of clients and the general public from harm caused by impaired lawyers or judges; (2) To assist impaired members of the legal profession to begin and continue recovery; and (3) To educate the bench, the bar, and the public to the causes of and remedies for impairments affecting members of the legal profession. C. Funding and Administration: (1) MAP shall be from assessments made annually on members of the Bar of Maine. Every attorney required to register in accordance with the Maine Bar Rules, other than suspended attorneys, shall pay an annual fee as established by the Court, which shall be paid to the Board of Overseers of the Bar with the registration statement on or before August 31 as required by M. Bar R. 6(a)(1). (2) MAP shall seek to establish additional private and public sources of funding. (3) Funding for MAP may also include gifts or bequests from any source and earnings on investments of the MAP fund. (4) The fiscal year of MAP shall run from July 1 to June 30. (5) MAP may retain and invest its funds which may be carried over to future fiscal years. Me. R. Law. and. Judg. Ass't Prog. 1
Amended September 28, 2023, effective 9/28/2023.Advisory Note - September 2023
Rule 1 is amended to provide the full name of the Maine Assistance Program for Lawyers and Judges.