ABA and Krill Strategies launch new lawyer mental health research project   

The American Bar Association, through its Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (COLAP), and Krill Strategies have entered into a cooperation agreement to collaborate on a new, nationwide research project aimed at improving mental health and well-being in the legal profession. 

This research will be conducted by state bars disseminating an anonymous and confidential survey to a random sample of their lawyers. 

This study will provide a 10-year update to and build upon the 2016 ABA-Hazelden Betty Ford study, offering insights into  trends, attitudes and barriers to mental health and well-being in law. 

Approximately 30 states representing all regions of the country will participate. 

This survey will include methodological enhancements  and reach a much wider cross section of the lawyer population. Overall, the research is expected to provide a robust and statistically reliable picture of the current mental health and well-being climate in the legal profession, necessary information which is highly germane to the practice of law and vital to effective policy formation at the state and national level.

 The research will allow state bars and regulators to improve outcomes, mitigate impairment risk, and increase public trust and confidence in our legal system consistent with the purpose and spirit of ABA Model Rule 1.1 (Competence). 

The survey will launch this summer, with data analysis continuing through the fall and a planned publication of the findings in a peer-reviewed scientific journal in the first half of 2026. 

The survey will address multiple important knowledge gaps, including: 

• Establishing Current Mental Health, Substance Use and Burnout Baseline

• Attitudes and Barriers

• Technology’s Impact 

• Attitudes about Mental Health Drivers

• Self-Care and Resource Utilization

• Mental Health Risk Factors and Protective Factors

• Physical Health and Substance Use for Performance:  

• Qualitative Insights 

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