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The New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program (NM LAP)
Did you know?
Lawyers within their first 10 years of practice are the most at risk for mental health struggles and problematic substance use.
A major 2016 study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine — The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys by Krill, Johnson, and Albert — surveyed nearly 13,000 practicing attorneys across the U.S. The study found that:
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28% of attorneys reported experiencing depression symptoms.
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19% reported symptoms of anxiety.
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21% qualified as problem drinkers — but rates were significantly higher among lawyers with 10 or fewer years of experience.
In fact, younger and early-career lawyers reported the highest levels of drinking problems, depression, and anxiety compared to their mid-career or senior colleagues. The study emphasized that the culture of law, combined with the high-pressure environment of early practice (long hours, billable hour demands, competitiveness, and perfectionism expectations), creates a critical window where early intervention can make a lasting difference.
Creating early support networks, offering mentorship, encouraging work-life balance and normalizing help-seeking behavior can dramatically change a lawyer’s professional and personal trajectory — and improve retention in the profession.
Krill, P. R., Johnson, R., & Albert, L. (2016). The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys.
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