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.
Given substantial shifts in the legal profession over the past decade, including significant changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, an updated national assessment of mental health and substance use among attorneys is critically needed. This study will provide a 10-year update to and build upon the landmark 2016 ABA-Hazelden Betty Ford study, offering essential insights into current trends, attitudes and barriers to mental health and well-being in law.
Approximately 30 states representing all regions of the country will participate in the research.
In addition to updating and building on the 2016 study, this survey will include methodological enhancements (e.g., a random sample vs. a convenience sample) and reach a much wider cross section of the lawyer population.
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 includings:
• 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:
This research project will be led by attorney behavioral health and well-being specialist Patrick Krill (JD, LLM, MA),of Krill Strategies, and Justin Anker (Ph.D.) from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Minnesota.
Prior studies led by Krill and Anker have informed national policies, guided ABA and statewide task forces in improving attorney well-being and generated significant attention for these critical issues and the work of lawyer assistance programs.
Given substantial shifts in the legal profession over the past decade, including significant changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, an updated national assessment of mental health and substance use among attorneys is critically needed. This study will provide a 10-year update to and build upon the landmark 2016 ABA-Hazelden Betty Ford study, offering essential insights into current trends, attitudes and barriers to mental health and well-being in law.
Approximately 30 states representing all regions of the country will participate in the research.
In addition to updating and building on the 2016 study, this survey will include methodological enhancements (e.g., a random sample vs. a convenience sample) and reach a much wider cross section of the lawyer population.
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 includings:
• 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:
This research project will be led by attorney behavioral health and well-being specialist Patrick Krill (JD, LLM, MA),of Krill Strategies, and Justin Anker (Ph.D.) from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Minnesota.
Prior studies led by Krill and Anker have informed national policies, guided ABA and statewide task forces in improving attorney well-being and generated significant attention for these critical issues and the work of lawyer assistance programs.
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