The ABA’s Commission on Lawyer Assistance Program will be collaborating on a project researching into depression, substance abuse and anxiety problems. While it is well known that lawyers suffer from higher problem rates than the population in general, there is now some concern at the Betty Ford Foundation that the numbers of lawyers affected might be going up. 

Help to lawyers

Terry Harrell, chair of the ABA commission, said: ‘Having well-conducted, current research on how these issues impact our profession will help us to better target our resources and provide the best assistance we can to our profession. In addition, this research will help inform the work of lawyer discipline, judicial discipline, lawyer admissions and all those providing treatment to judges, lawyers and law students.’ Source: ABA