The Mid-Columbia Bar Association, the Oregon Attorney Assistance Program, and the Professional Liability Fund are proud to sponsor the upcoming free CLE, “Sea Change: 10-Year Update on Lawyer Well-Being — How Are We Doing?” a presentation of the new research data on the profession, Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., with a social hour and reception to follow from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Presented by OAAP Director and Attorney Counselor Kyra Hazilla, JD, LCSW, and OAAP Attorney Counselor Associate Bridget Donegan, JD, MA Candidate-Mental Health Counseling.

The American Bar Association, through its Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP), and Krill Strategies released a new nationwide study on lawyer well-being that updates a 10-year old benchmark and reveals substantial distress, burnout, and risky alcohol use in the legal profession.

The report presents data-driven findings from the largest study of lawyer mental health and well-being ever conducted, and is believed to be the largest study on any single profession. The study analyzed survey responses from a random sample of approximately 37,000 actively licensed lawyers drawn from 28 participating jurisdictions across all four U.S. Census Bureau regions and all nine U.S Census Bureau divisions represented within those regions, including Oregon.

Those who attend this program will learn about:
 

• The new ABA/Patrick Krill study on lawyer mental health and well-being and Oregon’s participation
• The new numbers on lawyers experiencing depression, anxiety, burnout, work/family conflict, and stress
• Elements of legal culture and practice that impact attorney well-being
• Strategies to continue the work of improving well-being in the profession

A social hour and reception with fellow bar members and the PLF Board of Directors will immediately follow the presentation. The in-person CLE and reception will be held in the Benson Ballroom at The Columbia Gorge Hotel, 4000 Westcliff Dr., Hood River, Oregon 97031. The CLE will run from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., and the reception will follow from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Lawyers, judges, licensed paralegals, and staff are all welcome to attend. Please join us for refreshments! You are welcome to attend either or both the seminar and reception.

Application for 1 MCLE Mental Health Substance Use credit is pending.



REGISTRATION:

Registration deadline: Wednesday, October 21, 2026

You can register for the in-person CLE and/or the reception by emailing Jeanne Ulrich at [email protected] with (1) the name(s) of those who are registering; (2) their bar number(s) if applicable; and (3) whether you/they will be attending the CLE, reception, or both.

PLEASE NOTE: The OAAP is committed to providing accessible events. For accessibility or accommodation requests or other questions, please call the OAAP at 503.226.1057 or toll-free 800.321.6227, ext. 19, or email Bryan Welch at [email protected].