Ethics Question of the Month
April 2021
Lawyer Wellness, By the Numbers
How much do you know about attorney wellness?
The Situation
How much do you know about attorney wellness? Here’s a short quiz to test your knowledge. All information is provided courtesy of the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program.
1. According to a recent law review article, which occupation has the highest rate of depression in the United States?
A. Lawyers
B. Paralegals
C. Physicians
D. Social workers
2. According to the same article, what is the rate of depression among attorneys relative to the general population?
A. 1.7 times higher
B. 2.9 times higher
C. 3.6 times higher
D. 4.3 times higher
3. According to a 2016 American Bar Association study, what percentage of attorneys suffer from problematic drinking, defined as “hazardous, harmful, and potentially alcohol-dependent drinking”?
A. 18%
B. 21%
C. 26%
D. 29%
4. In the same study, what percentage suffered from depression?
A. 15%
B. 19%
C. 24%
D. 28%
5. What percentage suffered from clinical anxiety?
A. 19%
B. 22%
C. 25%
D. 28%
6. What percentage of attorneys believed that they had suffered from depression in the past?
A. 24%
B. 38%
C. 46%
D. 57%
7. What percentage of attorneys reported concerns about anxiety?
A. 24%
B. 35%
C. 46%
D. 61%
8. In a 2015 study of nearly 4,000 law students, what percentage of law students reported that they thought they needed help for emotional or mental health problems in the past year?
A. 21%
B. 34%
C. 42%
D. 51%
9. In the same study, what percentage of law students reported binge drinking in the previous two weeks?
A. 14%
B. 26%
C. 35%
D. 43%
10. True or false — A lawyer having knowledge that a second lawyer (1) is impaired by alcohol, drugs or mental illness and (2) has committed a violation the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct that raises a substantial question as to the second lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness must report that lawyer to either TLAP or CDC, but not both.
The Question
The Correct Answer is A Of 11 Responses, 100% are correct.
The Explanation
Correct responses: 1(A), 2(C), 3(B), 4(D), 5(A), 6(C), 7(D), 8(C), 9(D), 10(false), 11(false), 12(true).
Under Rule 8.03, an attorney in the situation posed by questions 10-12 must report the conduct to either TLAP or the CDC, but is not required to report it to both.
For a comprehensive discussion of these statistics and how you can help address these issues, please see this article about attorney wellness written by TLAP Director Chris Ritter.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The State Bar of Texas created The Texas Lawyer’s Assistance Program (TLAP) in 1989 to provide attorneys help with substance abuse and mental health issues. Texas attorneys can contact TLAP 24/7 to seek help for themselves or to attempt to get help for a colleague. By law, all calls are completely confidential.
To reach TLAP, call 800-343-TLAP (8527) or text TLAP to 555888.
Upon receiving information regarding a colleague, if appropriate, TLAP will confidentially reach out to the attorney in question directly or by means of a trained local volunteer attorney familiar with the problem faced by the attorney in need. TLAP helps connect lawyers in need to professional care, funding for such care, peer support, and group support. The identity of any attorney who calls TLAP regarding a colleague will not be revealed to anyone, and all callers can remain anonymous.
For more information – including self-help info and helpful resources – go to TLAPHelps.org or to the TLAP Facebook page.
As always, if there is an emergency, call 911.
Bluebook Citation
Lawyer Wellness, By the Numbers: Ethics Question of the Month - April 2021,
Texas Center for Legal Ethics
(2021), from https://legalethicstexas.com/ethics-question-of-the-month/ethics-question-of-the-month-april-2021/ (last visited Apr 30, 2024)