California Bar Journal
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 2001
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California Bar Journal

The State Bar of California


REGULARS

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Front Page - November 2001
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News / News Briefs
Applicants sought to oversee bar's diversion program
Let's have another cup of - legal advice
Foundation leads students to capital
Six honored for professional service
Warwick, six others named to California Judicial Council
Several thousand lawyers suspended for failing to pay dues, certify MCLE
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Trials Digest
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Opinion
From the President - Remembering the fallen
The rule of law is our strongest weapon
Pro bono work is lawyers' duty
Letters to the Editor
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Law Practice - Success: The top eight requirements
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You Need to Know
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MCLE Self-Study
Planning for education expenses
Self-Assessment Test
MCLE Calendar of Events
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Discipline
Ethics Byte - Lawyers move on in usual way despite disaster
Former city councilman spent his son's settlement
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Public Comment
Applicants sought to oversee bar's diversion program
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The State Bar Board of Governors is seeking applicants to serve on a 12-member oversight committee of its new attorney diversion program.

Modeled on a program operated by the Medical Board of California for 20 years, the diversion program is designed to rehabilitate rather than punish lawyers suffering from drug and alcohol abuse or addiction. The program contained in SB 479 (Burton) was passed by the legislature this summer and signed into law by Gov. Gray Davis in August.

Statute calls for six of the members to be appointed by the bar's board of governors. Those appointments must include:

Two members who are licensed mental health professionals and one member who is a physician, all with knowledge and expertise in the identification and treatment of substance abuse and mental illness;

One member of the board of directors of a statewide nonprofit organization which has been established to assist lawyers with alcohol or substance abuse problems and has been operating continuously for at least five years; and

Two members who are attorneys, at least one of which is in recovery and has at least five years of continuous sobriety.

Prospective applicants should contact Starr Babcock, the bar's special assistant to the executive director, at 415/538-2070; Office of the Executive Director, 180 Howard St., San Francisco 94105-1639; Starr.Babcock@calsb.org. The deadline is Oct. 30.