Share your experience and support cutting-edge research on attorney well-being!

By Kyra Hazilla

Many of us were around ten years ago for the groundbreaking (and validating) research study by Patrick Krill and Linda Albert. The 2016 research confirmed what most of us knew or suspected—that lawyers are more likely than the rest of the population to experience depression, anxiety, unhealthy stress, and problematic substance use. Since that study was published, we have seen a groundswell of support from stakeholders in Oregon and nationally.  The OAAP’s lifesaving work prioritizing attorney well-being and combatting stigma came to the fore as the research bore out the vital importance of supporting our colleagues who are suffering.

Members of the legal community frequently reach out to ask what they can do to get involved in the lawyer well-being movement. For a randomly selected sample of Oregon lawyers (as well as participants from 29 other states), now is your chance. Patrick Krill is again collaborating with the American Bar Association’s Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs to provide a 10-year update and build on the landmark research from 2016.
This survey will advance our understanding of attorney well-being in several important ways. First, the 2025 study will utilize the gold standard in empirical data collection of a randomized sample (rather than a convenience sample), as well as reach many more attorneys across the nation with a more than 50% increase in participating states. The research will also provide a new baseline for mental health, substance use, and burnout—reflecting changes in the profession—and explore the effects of the pandemic. Finally, the survey will assess current attitudes about mental health, treatments, barriers to accessing support, and perceived stigma.

How forthcoming can we be?

From the OSB email about the survey: “Raw data collected in this survey will not be shared with the Oregon State Bar. All survey responses will be anonymous and go directly to the University of Minnesota, which maintains the confidentiality of all data. No identifying information will be asked, and all data will be de-identified, including IP addresses.”

This means that participants can be frank and unreserved for the good of the profession.

What can you do?

If you were selected, you should have recently received a link to the survey. If you did make sure you respond! Your experience is vital. 

If you were not randomly selected and did not receive the survey, encourage your lucky colleagues to complete it. Let them know how important their participation is, and emphasize the superlative efforts of the researchers (and the Oregon State Bar) to create a double-blind study, protect confidentiality, and anonymize the results.

Stay tuned for the results. We will be so excited to share them in 2026.