Report reveals mental health challenges for lawyers
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Nearly two-thirds of Illinois lawyers surveyed would consider leaving their jobs because of stress affecting their overall health, according to a new report.
Why it matters: The study provides data on how the profession can severely affect the overall well-being of attorneys and their families, and many are reluctant to discuss their problems or seek help.
The latest: The Illinois Lawyers' Assistance Program (ILAP), a Commission of the Illinois Supreme Court, released the report "The Weight of Practice" last month.
- More than 6,700 registered lawyers and judges took the independent survey between October and December 2025.
By the numbers: 3,500 respondents to the survey reported suicidal ideation at least once during 2025.
- 37% of lawyers did not seek help.
- Half of respondents drank alcohol a few times a month, and 22% reported drinking several times a week.
- Nearly 15% report frequent recreational drug use.
Stunning stat: Nearly two-thirds of lawyers surveyed would consider leaving their job because of the stress on their physical and mental health.
- "I had to call the suicide hotline 4 times while working for a firm that pushed me too far and never truly supported me. It was awful," one female attorney said in the survey.
Between the lines: Several respondents pointed to stigma or fear of reputational harm for not reporting to their employers or colleagues that they needed help with stress, depression or substance use issues.
What they're saying: "People don't come forward when they feel it will be used against them or that it's such a taboo subject that they feel they can't talk about it," Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary K. O'Brien said in the report.
- "Our mission is to ensure they can talk about it. We want to be able to know what's really going on and to be able to offer real solutions and things that can truly help them," O'Brien added.
Flashback: A group of lawyers started the Lawyers' Assistance Program in 1980 after seeing the debilitating effects alcohol and addiction were having on the profession.
What's next: ILAP plans to use the findings to expand its outreach to law firms and schools to help them recognize the challenges attorneys face, and look for signs of mental health issues.
Go deeper: ILAP lists resources such as group counseling, wellness tips and events to connect with others in the profession.
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. The hotline is open 24/7 365 days a year. Ayuda disponible en español.