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A New Study on Lawyer Mental Health and Wellbeing
May 12, 2025
Patrick Krill, a lawyer and founder of Krill Strategies, discusses the evolving landscape of mental health in the legal profession, following up on the ABA's 2016 study. He highlights improvements in well-being among lawyers but underscores persistent struggles with addiction and stress. Krill emphasizes the need for support systems and accountability in recovery, along with the harmful impact of technology on mental health. He advocates for healthier work practices to cultivate a more balanced environment for legal professionals.
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Quick takeaways
- The upcoming research, building on the 2016 ABA study, aims to provide comprehensive insights into lawyer mental health and wellbeing as a follow-up.
- Despite some progress in reducing stigma and increasing dialogue about mental health, significant barriers still hinder effective support and change in the legal profession.
Deep dives
Importance of Current Research in Legal Mental Health
The legal profession is facing significant challenges regarding mental health and substance use, necessitating updated research to understand the current state of well-being within the field. A new research project aims to gather reliable data in 2025, serving as a ten-year follow-up to the previous 2016 ABA Hazelden Betty Ford study. This upcoming study will not only improve methodology by utilizing a random sample but will also address gaps in knowledge related to technology's impact on stress and mental health. Additionally, the research seeks to identify successful behaviors and attributes among lawyers who maintain good mental health, thereby providing valuable insights for the profession as a whole.
