The Law Society of BC is inviting a random sample of lawyers in the province to participate in a new research project on lawyer mental health and well-being. Participation in the study is voluntary and all responses will be anonymous and confidential.
The project, a collaboration between the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs and lawyer behavioural health and well-being specialist Patrick Krill (JD, LLM, MA), is being led by Krill and his research partner Justin Anker (PhD) from the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Researchers will disseminate an anonymous survey to a random sample of lawyers across the US and in BC.
In deciding to participate in a US-based study, the Law Society conducted a thorough assessment and determined the research project meets the requisite privacy standards and will provide valuable insight needed to improve lawyer well-being in BC, a key priority for the Law Society.
This study aims to provide a 10-year update to and build upon the landmark 2016 ABA-Hazelden Betty Ford study, providing essential insights into current trends, attitudes, and barriers to mental health and well-being in law. Given substantial shifts in the legal profession over the past decade, including significant changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and an increasing role of technology in legal practice, an updated national assessment of mental health and substance use among lawyers is critically needed.
In addition to updating and building upon the 2016 study, this survey will include methodological enhancements (e.g., a random sample) and reach an even wider cross section of the lawyer population. The anonymous and confidential survey will investigate a range of individual risk factors for mental health and substance use problems (including stress, anxiety, depression, and behavioural motives) as well as cultural and workplace risk factors (workload, burnout, attitudes towards substance use and self-care, availability and utilization of support resources). The survey will also explore mental health and well-being protective factors in order to highlight behaviors, norms and experiences associated with good mental and physical health.
Approximately 10,500 lawyers in BC will be randomly selected and invited to participate in this study. If you are selected, you will receive an email from the Law Society with more information about the study and a link to complete the survey. This survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Raw data collected in this survey will not be shared with the Law Society. The only information that will be shared with the Law Society is an aggregate summary of all of the responses from BC lawyers to various survey measures (e.g. demographics, experience with health issues etc.). 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.
Any questions about the study should be directed to Dr. Justin Anker, Principal Investigator or Patrick Krill, Co-Investigator. Questions relating to the Law Society can be sent to communications@lsbc.org.
Dr. Anker can be reached at:
Justin Anker, Ph.D.
Office: (612)751-0386
anke0022@umn.edu
Patrick Krill can be reached at:
Patrick Krill, J.D., LL.M, M.A.
Office: (724) 719-2134
Patrick@prkrill.com
