Last year, I participated in my first Out of the Darkness Walk in conjunction with The Missouri Bar and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL). It was a sunny, pleasant morning, and I was immediately struck by the number of participants and the colorful honor beads they wore. As I looked more closely, I realized each color represented a particular experience or loss: the loss of a child or friend, a personal struggle, or a suicide attempt. It was both deeply moving and profoundly sad.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

Our profession faces an increased risk of depression, substance misuse, and suicide at alarming rates. It is a subject few of us wish to dwell on, yet suicide has affected all of us. There is hope. By bringing these struggles into the light, we can raise awareness and connect people with available resources.

The Missouri Bar offers the Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program, which provides free and confidential counseling and referrals for lawyers, law students, and their families. The Missouri Bar also has a Lawyers’ Assistance and Well-being Committee that connects lawyers throughout the state. I encourage you to join the committee on connect.MOBAR.

I also invite you to join fellow lawyers and judges at an upcoming Out of the Darkness Walk. Beginning this weekend, The Missouri Bar will have multiple teams participating in walks across the state. Together, we can raise awareness and foster support.

Join us:

• Springfield (Greene Co.), Sept. 26: (Select Join Our Team)
• St. Louis, Sept. 27: (Select Join Our Team)
• Kansas City, Oct. 3: (Select Join Our Team)
• Columbia, Oct. 25: (Select Join Our Team)

Take care of yourselves, and each other.

Jennifer M. Crompton
2026-2027 Missouri Bar president

If you are in an emergency situation, please call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. 

Lawyers have reported having more days with suicidal ideation than the general working population.¹ September is national Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and several Missouri lawyers are leading Out of the Darkness Walks across the state to raise awareness and funds to help prevent suicide.

There will be four walks across the state, and anyone can participate at no cost. Click on the links below to see more information about registration, exact locations, and start times. (Be sure to select “Join Our Team” on the landing page.) You can also use the links to donate if you can’t attend.  

You can volunteer, donate, or participate in one of the four Out of the Darkness community suicide prevention walks led by your colleagues in one of the cities linked below:

• Springfield (Greene Co.), Sept. 26: (Select Join Our Team)
• St. Louis, Sept. 27: (Select Join Our Team)
• Kansas City, Oct. 3: (Select Join Our Team)
• Columbia, Oct. 25: (Select Join Our Team)

Learn more about the national Out of the Darkness Walks through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention here.

Missouri lawyers and law students have access to free, confidential counseling through the Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program. Learn more at MoBar.org/MOLAP.

If in an emergency, call 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Endnotes: 

1 Matthew S. Thiese et al., Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation Among Lawyers and Other Law Professionals, 63 J. OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MED. 381-386 (2021).

Note: If you are in an emergency situation, please call 911. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, 24/7 support.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time dedicated to fostering dialogue around mental health and taking actionable steps toward preventing suicide. 

A 2023 study found that lawyers "are prone to mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse which are strongly linked to suicide risk.”¹ In fact, an estimated 11% percent of lawyers in the U.S. have experienced suicidal thoughts, nearly twice the rate of the general population. Just like physical health, mental health requires attention, care, and support.

Thoughts of suicide can be tied to specific tendencies commonly found in the legal profession, including: 

• Perfectionism: Lawyers with high perfectionist tendencies reported double the stress of their peers.
• Over-commitment to work: Lawyers who struggle to disconnect from work are twice as likely to consider suicide, according to the 2023 report on lawyer stress.
• Isolation: Lawyers often feel profoundly alone. Client confidentiality, competitive cultures, and adversarial work create emotional barriers. The same 2023 study showed that lonely lawyers are almost three times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts.
• Substance use: Lawyers are nearly twice as likely as other Americans to struggle with alcohol or substance misuse. What begins as stress management becomes a dangerous coping mechanism that compounds suicide risk.

One of the most significant barriers to effective suicide prevention in the legal profession is the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Many lawyers fear being judged or ostracized if they admit to struggling with their mental health. This stigma can deter them from seeking the help they need, leading to tragic consequences. This month serves as a reminder that mental health is health, and each one of us plays a role in promoting awareness, combating stigma, and encouraging those in our lives to seek support.

Please join us as we support and discuss suicide prevention awareness this month. 

• Follow along on LinkedIn to hear lawyers and judges talk about the impact of suicide on the profession.
   
• You can volunteer, donate, or participate in one of the five Out of the Darkness community suicide prevention walks led by your colleagues in one of the cities linked below:
  • Springfield (Greene Co.), Sept. 26: (Select Join Our Team)
  • St. Louis, Sept. 27: (Select Join Our Team)
  • Kansas City, Oct. 3: (Select Join Our Team)
  • Columbia, Oct. 25: (Select Join Our Team)
     
• Consider reaching out to MOLAP for a depression screening. In addition, MOLAP is offering three no-cost QPR crisis response trainings on Sept. 3, Sept. 8, and Sept. 23, with lawyers and judges invited to register here.

Resources: 

• Contact MOLAP at molap@mobar.org or by calling 1-800-688-7859.
• Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Learn more at 988lifeline.org.
• Learn more about the National Out of the Darkness Walks and Suicide Prevention Month from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: afsp.org.

Endnotes:  

1 Patrick R. Krill et al., Stressed, Lonely, and Overcommitted: Predictors of Lawyer Suicide Risk, 11 HEALTHCARE 536, (2023).

Struggling with uncertainty and the unknown is a common part of human experience. Our brains are wired to protect us, scanning for potential threats and looking for evidence to fit that something could go wrong. When we don’t know what the future holds, our minds naturally try to fill in the blanks.

The next time you are adjusting to a new role or waiting for a performance evaluation, become curious about your emotional experience rather than trying to fight it. Acknowledge the feeling by noticing and naming the emotion. Where in your body do you feel it the most? You do not need to like, want, or approve of the emotion. You just allow it and make room for it. Painful emotions can carry valuable information. Consider what this emotion is telling you to face up to, tackle, or address. Uncover the wisdom of the emotion and take some time to appreciate it (Harris, 2022).

Our minds naturally generate stories and predictions during times of uncertainty. Although thoughts can feel convincing, they are not facts (Therapistaid, 2023). Notice the difference between saying “What if I’m going to disappoint my client?” and “I’m noticing I’m having the thought that I’m going to disappoint my client.” This small shift creates distance and reminds you that you are not your thoughts, but you are simply the one noticing them. When a “what if” thought comes up, imagine placing it on a leaf and letting it flow down a stream. Just like leaves on a stream, thoughts come and go.

Your entire life takes place in the present moment. You can't turn back time and negotiate a meeting different from two months ago, just as you can't fast forward to know the jury’s verdict of a trial happening in six months. During times of uncertainty, it’s common for the human mind to ruminate on the past and fixate on future possibilities. However, this often keeps us stuck rather than focusing on what we do have in the present moment. When you are lost in thought, practice noticing what you can see, hear, and smell in your immediate environment. This can help ground back to the present moment and shift to actionable steps in the here and now.

Anxiety often latches onto what we value the most in life. Spend this time looking at what matters most to you and reconnect with the reasons you chose this profession in the first place. What kind of person do you want to be, regardless of the outcome? Anxiety may be present, but it doesn’t have to decide your next step.

In the legal profession, it can be easy to tie your identity to your performance and accomplishments. You may begin to believe that one exam determines whether you are a success or failure, one mistake defines your competence, or one job interview determines whether you are “good enough.” When we attach our identity to our experiences, our sense of self becomes easily shaken based on outcomes. Whether you pass or fail the bar exam, win or lose a case, or receive a job offer, your worth remains unchanged. Bring attention to your thoughts and ask yourself, “Am I these thoughts, or am I the one noticing these thoughts?” If you are the one noticing them, you are connecting with your observing self (Therapistaid 2023).

References:

o   https://www.lclma.org/2022/01/13/how-lawyers-law-students-can-successfully-navigate-the-uncertainty-of-waiting/

o   Therapist Aid. (2023). Becoming psychologically flexible: ACT skill [Worksheet]. Therapist Aid. https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/becoming-psychologically-flexible

o   Harris, R. (2022). Trauma-Focused ACT. Psychwire. https://psychwire.com/harris

The James T. Britt Memorial Award is presented to an individual who over the years has advanced the cause of relief and recovery for impaired lawyers or made pioneering contributions to the overall well-being of lawyers in Missouri. 

The Dorothy Kaiser Award is presented to an individual in the field of chemical dependency, recovery, and continuing compassionate care for lawyers or who has made pioneering contributions to the overall well-being of lawyers in Missouri. 

The Warren Welliver Award is presented to an individual who exemplified compassion and concern for lawyers in Missouri during the past year.

Submit your nominations here: https://mobar.wufoo.com/forms/submit-your-nominations-for-2026-molap-awards/

MOLAP helps individuals overcome concerns such as substance misuse, depression, stress, and burnout through a variety of no-cost services. MOLAP provides a professional, confidential counseling program for members of The Missouri Bar, immediate family members who reside with them, and law students.

Call 1-800-688-7859 or visit MoBar.org/MOLAP for more information.

The Missouri Bar, The Missouri Bar Foundation, and The Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section are currently accepting nominations for several awards. Click here to read about other award nominations. 

June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month, and it’s important for lawyers and judges to be aware of how trauma can not only help them even better understand their clients, but also recognize the impact this difficult work can have on themselves as legal professionals.

The impact of trauma

Clients often seek legal counsel during times of significant vulnerability, including during and after experiencing trauma. PTSD can occur following trauma, and trauma could involve extreme or life-threatening events such as military service and combat, natural disasters, and serious accidents, or other distressing experiences such as unhealthy relationship dynamics, bullying, and emotional neglect.

Trauma can stem from not only what happened, but what happened afterward, including how a person made sense of the experience and the support that was available.

While most memories are functionally stored in the brain, traumatic memories are often stored without a coherent sense of time. This leads those who have experienced trauma to feel that past traumatic events are happening again in the present.¹

Lawyers may work closely with clients or witnesses who are displaying PTSD symptoms from their trauma, including intrusive thoughts, nightmares, flashbacks, negative affect, irritability, hypervigilance and aggression, emotional stress, or physical reactivity following exposure to traumatic reminders. It’s also common for mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, and addiction to be a result of a traumatic experience.

Vicarious trauma in the legal profession

While lawyers may be prepared to help clients experiencing trauma, lawyers also need to be mindful of their increased risk of vicarious trauma due to repeated exposure to traumatic material and the experiences of others. Lawyers are humans too and may carry their own personal experiences of trauma, which can be triggered while supporting clients through experiences of trauma.

Legal work can involve discussing, drafting affidavits, analyzing reports, or closely examining forensic evidence that details gruesome, traumatic, or upsetting experiences and injuries of clients, victims, or witnesses.

The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program is here to help lawyers experiencing trauma and/or PTSD. Just as someone seeks medical care for a broken arm, seeking out mental health treatment after a direct or indirect traumatic experience should also be normalized. Effective trauma treatment helps individuals safely process traumatic memory in a supportive environment.

Visit MoBar.org/MOLAP to schedule a no-cost, confidential counseling session with licensed professionals.

1 Kennard, D. (2025). EMDR Basic Training Manual: An EMDRIA Approved 6-day Training Program. [Training manual]. Personal Transformation Institute.

Additional references:

Johson, S. M., & Campbell, T. L. (2026). Emotionally Focused Therapy For Trauma. The Guilford Press.

https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trauma-and-stress

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7476614/

Data from the Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel's 2024 report highlights complaints in the legal field related to communication, diligence, and competence. When lawyers experience burnout, it impacts their ability to effectively serve clients, potentially leading to these concerns. 

Fostering a stronger balance between work and home life can support lawyer well-being and lead to better competency. This could include setting a consistent end to workday time and sticking to it, avoiding checking your email after a certain hour, and taking a true lunch break. Creating balance through boundaries can better help lawyers manage occupational stress to in turn better serve clients.

Citations:

Bloomberg Law. (2024). 2024 Attorney Well-Being Report: The Divide Between Health & the Legal Industry (2024).

https://mochiefcounsel.org/annual-reports-for-ocdc/

In celebration of Well-Being Week in Law May 4-8, The Missouri Bar Standing Committee on Well-Being in the Profession is highlighting several well-being activities and programs to enhance Missouri lawyers’ competence and help them even better serve their clients and communities.

Given the high expectations and demands within the legal profession, it is not surprising the impact on well-being. A 2024 Bloomberg Law report found that 55% of lawyers experienced anxiety, 29% reported depression, and 37% reported worsened mood.¹ Lawyers also reported feeling burnt out almost half of the time at work, while 57% surveyed listed work stress as a top reason they may leave their job.²

Emotional intelligence includes the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions in ourselves and others, which then guides our thinking and behavior.³ In a field where perfectionism is prevalent, it can be easy to fall into a loop of self-criticism. However, research shows that fostering self-compassion can have positive impacts on well-being as it is linked to more autonomy, competence, and relatedness,⁴ all of which help lawyers be advocates for their clients.

Self-compassion requires an awareness of personal suffering and the ability to recognize thoughts, feelings, and actions without self-judgement. It involves recognizing when you are struggling, a key part of self-awareness, and ending self-criticism.⁵

Research shows an inverse associate between self-compassion and negative mental states such as depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal ideation, which are all highly prevalent in the legal profession. Self-compassion also reduces shame, which is at the core of many persistent negative mental states. It can help reduce automatic and negative thinking, avoidance of negative emotions, and entanglement with negative emotions, ultimately enhancing emotional regulation skills.⁶

When lawyers respond to themselves with compassion rather than criticism and negativity, they are better equipped to take care of their own well-being and effectively serve clients.

There are three main components of self-compassion to be mindful of throughout Well-Being Week in Law — and year-round.

Self kindness

Being kind and understanding toward yourself when you suffer, fail, or feel inadequate, rather than ignore your pain or engage in harsh self-criticism.⁷ Approach the situation as if you were responding to a friend who is suffering — with warmth, support, helpfulness, and encouragement. This can help you feel safe and put you in a better frame of mind to cope with challenges or make needed changes, both professionally and personally.⁸

Common humanity

When we make a mistake, we tend to irrationally feel like we are alone in our struggles. This is not a logical process but instead is an emotional reaction that distorts reality.⁹ All humans suffer, not in the same way or amount, but the definition of being human means to be vulnerable, flawed, or imperfect. When you are compassionate, you can recognize that your suffering connects you to others rather than isolates you.¹⁰

Mindfulness

To have compassion for ourselves, we need to be willing to turn toward our pain and acknowledge it mindfully.¹¹ This involves taking a balanced mindful approach toward our suffering to neither suppress or over-identify it.

For WWIL, consider writing a self-compassionate letter to yourself over the course of the week, which studies have shown can help decrease depression levels and increase happiness.¹² By routinely pausing when you notice yourself engaging in critical self-talk and intentionally respond with self-compassion, you can help strengthen your well-being and even better advocate for your clients.

MOLAP is here to help you combat negative thoughts and establish healthier habits that can build your self-compassion. Call the confidential MOLAP phone number at 800-688-7859 or visit MoBar.org/MOLAP to speak to a professionally trained clinician.

1 2024 Attorney Well-Being Report: The Divide Between Health & the Legal Industry, Bloomberg Law (2024), https://assets.bbhub.io/bna/sites/18/2024/09/BLAW_2024_Well-Being-Report.pdf.

2 Id.

3 Dana Ackley, Emotional intelligence: A practical review of models, measures, and applications, 68 Consulting Psych. J.: Practice & Research 4, 269 (2016).

4 Katie Gunnell et al, Don't be so hard on yourself! Changes in self-compassion during the first year of university are associated with changes in well-being, 107 Personality and Individual Differences 1, 43 (2017).

5 Kristen Neff, Self-Compassion: Theory, Method, Research, and Intervention, 74 Annual Rev. of Psych 193 (2023).

6 Id.

7 Self-Compassion Institute, https://self-compassion.org/ (last visited April 30, 2026).

8 Id.

9 Id.

10 Id.

11 Kristen Neff, Self-Compassion: Theory, Method, Research, and Intervention, 74 Annual Rev. of Psych 193 (2023).

12 L.B. Shapira & M. Mongrain, The benefits of self-compassion and optimism exercises for individuals vulnerable to depression, 5 The J. of Positive Psych. 5, 377 (2010).

Stacy Parmer is director of the Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and the Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program is here to help you if you are experiencing alcohol misuse. Throughout April, MOLAP is offering anonymous, no-cost alcohol screenings to Missouri Bar members, immediate family members who reside with them, and law students.

By the numbers

Excessive and high-risk drinking can be common among lawyers and is widely associated with increased stress levels and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, often as a result of the difficult legal work lawyers do. While some may believe drinking relieves stress or other mental health challenges, studies found lawyers’ mental health issues are often exacerbated by alcohol use and work-related stress. This can lead to lawyers drinking more alcohol, creating a vicious cycle.

Alcohol Use Disorder is a problematic pattern of alcohol misuse leading to significant impairment or distress, diagnosed with at least two of 11 criteria within a 12-month period. Severity is categorized as mild (two to three symptoms), moderate (four to five symptoms), or severe (six-plus symptoms).

One study of more than 12,000 lawyers found that 20.6% reported problematic drinking that was “hazardous or harmful,” and lawyers in the first 10 years of their practice experienced the highest levels of problematic drinking.

The 2024 Bloomberg Law Well-Being Survey, meanwhile, found that 87% of lawyers said they were current drinkers or at least have been drinking alcohol since the beginning of 2024. Of the lawyers who had consumed alcohol since the beginning of 2024, 18% claim to drink four or more times a week and 25% drank two to three times a week.

Most of the respondents in the Bloomberg survey drank to self-medicate — 50% drank to relieve stress, 10% drank to numb their emotions/quiet their minds, and 6% drank to cope with emotional problems.

Relationship between emotional intelligence and alcohol

While alcohol could provide temporary relief in the form of numbness or a pleasurable high, using alcohol to self-medicate emotional distress is an unhealthy coping mechanism. Developing your emotional intelligence (EI) is a healthier way to train yourself to deal with negative feelings.

EI is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions in ourselves and others, which then guides our thinking and behavior.² Having more EI can lead to lower levels of stress, better decision making, increased rates of positive emotional states, and better client representation. Without a high EI to handle negative feelings, lawyers may be more likely to turn to alcohol to self-medicate.

For example, imagine you are in competition with a colleague at your law firm for the same partner position. If your colleague wins, you might feel frustrated and possibly look to drinking as a coping mechanism. However, if you have high levels of EI, you are more likely to take a step back and understand the partnership is based on merit, rather than resorting to drinking.

Tips for promoting alcohol awareness

As legal professionals, it is essential to establish a culture of well-being and support. Here are some ways you can promote alcohol awareness and encourage healthier habits:

• Educate yourself: Understand how alcohol affects mental health, the legal profession, and professional performance.
• Seek help: If you or your colleagues are struggling with alcohol misuse, don’t hesitate to reach out to MOLAP for support. Remember, reaching out for help is a sign of strength and hope.
• Promote balance: Encourage work-life balance to reduce stressors that may lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, like drinking.
• Engage in conversations: Normalize discussions around alcohol misuse within your networks.
• Join the Lawyers’ Assistance and Well-being Committee community on connect.MOBAR.
• Request a peer volunteer: Contact MOLAP to be paired with a lawyer who has the lived experience of alcohol use.

MOLAP is here to help you build healthier habits with alcohol. Call the confidential MOLAP phone number at 800-688-7859 or visit MoBar.org/MOLAP to schedule your anonymous, no-cost alcohol screening or speak to a professionally trained clinician.

Endnotes

1 The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practice Recommendations for Positive Change, National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being (Aug. 14, 2017), https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/professional_responsibility/lawyer_well_being_report_final.pdf.

2 Justin Anker and Patrick Krill, Stress, Drink, Leave: An Examination of Gender-Specific Risk Factors for Mental Health Problems and Attrition Among Licensed Attorneys, 16 PLoS One 1 (2021).

3 Am. Psychiatric Ass’n, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed. text rev. 2022).

4 Patrick Krill, et al., The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys, 10 J. Addict Med. 46 (2016).

5 Bloomberg Law Attorney Workload and Hours Survey, BLOOMBERG LAW (2024).

6 Id.

Stacy Parmer is director of the Missouri Lawyers' Assistance Program.

The long work hours, deadlines, and heavy caseloads associated with the legal profession can be detrimental to lawyers’ overall sleep quality and duration, negatively impacting their ability to effectively practice law and serve their clients.

Impact of sleep

A 2024 Bloomberg Law Well-being Report found that when lawyers were asked what health issues and well-being challenges prevented them from performing at optimum levels, a staggering 56% indicated they experience disrupted sleep.¹  

Sleep hygiene is the set of behavioral and environmental aspects that support healthy sleep patterns, and it is a growing health concern across the globe.² Good sleep hygiene can help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling rejuvenated, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Disrupted sleep, on the other hand, impairs cognitive function, making it difficult to focus on important work-related tasks. It impairs executive functioning, responsible for decision-making and problem-solving. It reduces the ability to effectively handle stress, increasing irritability and agitation. It decreases concentration and attention span leading to poor memory retention.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, anxiety and sleep are closely linked. Stress and worry can make it harder to fall and stay asleep, and poor sleep can worsen anxiety symptoms.³ This cyclical pattern interferes with daily functioning, affects mood and concentration, and even contributes to long-term health issues.

This connection between anxiety and sleep is particularly concerning for legal professionals as over half of surveyed lawyers in the Bloomberg Law Well-being Report indicated experiencing anxiety, and 48% stated they struggled to focus on work tasks.⁴

For lawyers, the ramifications of poor sleep hygiene can affect performance in courtrooms, negotiations, productivity, and client interactions.

Tips for improving sleep hygiene

Here are five ways lawyers can promote good sleep hygiene and improve sleep patterns:

1. Establish a consistent sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day.

2. Create a sleep conducive environment by dimming bedroom lights, limiting noise, and keeping the temperature cool.

3. Limit screen time to 30-60 minutes before bed. Resist the urge to check your work email one last time or review documents.

4. Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or stretching exercises.

5. Avoid large meals, caffeine, or alcohol within a few hours of bedtime.

Not sure if your sleep hygiene is high? Test your sleep habits here.⁵ This can also help you identify areas where you could improve your sleep hygiene.

It’s easy to overlook the importance of good sleep hygiene to overall mental health and well-being. Prioritizing sleep hygiene can help lawyers improve work focus and advocate effectively for clients while also taking care of themselves.

If you would like to improve sleep hygiene, reduce anxiety, or improve concentration, MOLAP is here to help. Contact MOLAP at 1-800-688-7859 or MOLAP@MoBar.org.

Endnotes
1 Bloomberg Law Attorney Workload and Hours Survey, Bloomberg Law (2024), pro.bloomberglaw.com/insights/business-of-law/attorney-workload-and-hours-survey. 
2 Alanazi EM, Alanazi AMM, Albuhairy AH, Alanazi AAA., Sleep Hygiene Practices and Its Impact on Mental Health and Functional Performance Among Adults in Tabuk City: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus. 2023 Mar 16;15(3):e36221. doi: 10.7759/cureus.36221. PMID: 37069886; PMCID: PMC10105495.
3 The stress-sleep connection, National Sleep Foundation (March 13, 2022), https://www.thensf.org/the-stress-sleep-connection/.
4 Bloomberg Law Attorney Workload and Hours Survey, Bloomberg Law (2024), pro.bloomberglaw.com/insights/business-of-law/attorney-workload-and-hours-survey. 
5 Sleep habit test, Psychology today (March 17, 2026), https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/tests/health/sleep-habits-test.

Stacy Parmer is director of the Missouri Lawyers' Assistance Program.

The legal profession is a helping profession with demanding and emotionally complex situations that can over time lead to high levels of stress, depression, anxiety, and burnout, hindering lawyers’ emotional intelligence and making it difficult for them to practice law and serve clients.¹

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions in ourselves and others, which then guides our thinking and behavior. EI is a skill set that consists of self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, empathy, and intrinsic motivation. Emotional quotient is a measure of that intelligence and can predict how well we traverse social complexities, make decisions, and cope with stress.²

Lawyers require a high level of EI to confidentially solve problems and interact with clients, judges, and opposing counsel. Having more EI can lead to lower levels of stress, increase rates of positive emotional states, and better client representation. On the flip side, depression, stress, anxiety, and burnout can lead to decreased EI, which may compromise decision-making abilities and lead to ethical lapses.

It’s essential for lawyers to prioritize well-being to maintain or even increase³ their EI to ensure they are making sound ethical decisions in their legal practices and during interactions with colleagues and clients. 

One way lawyers can help increase their EI, and improve their mental health, is by practicing gratitude. Gratitude helps build positive relationships, increase empathy, develop a heightened awareness of your emotions, and reflect on the feelings and emotions of yourself and others.⁴

Science shows that gratitude isn’t just a feel-good concept; it's backed by research. When we practice gratitude, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters that are responsible for our emotions.⁵ Regularly practicing gratitude can have lasting effects and improve psychological conditions like stress, anxiety, and depression by turning your thoughts toward good things.⁶

Begin changing your brain by regularly reflecting on and practicing gratitude at work. For example, each day, write three things you are grateful for in your career or at your firm. Make it a point to express gratitude to one fellow lawyer, judge, or client each day.

In expressing your gratitude towards others, you can increase your EI and may find a renewed sense of purpose, helping lead to more positive relationships with clients and other lawyers.

Endnotes
1 Bloomberg Law Attorney Workload and Hours Survey, Bloomberg Law (2024), pro.bloomberglaw.com/insights/business-of-law/attorney-workload-and-hours-survey. According to the survey of legal professionals,
- 57% stated they might leave their jobs for reduced work stress.
- 54% stated they might leave for a better work/life balance.
- 55% experienced anxiety.
- 37% reported worsened mood.
- 20% experienced depression.
- 14% noted increased alcohol usage.
2 Dana Ackley, Emotional intelligence: A practical review of models, measures, and applications, 68 Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research 269 (2016), https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/cpb-cpb0000070.pdf.
3 Unlike Intelligence Quotient (IQ), which typically remains stable from adolescence, EQ is not fixed and can continue to improve with age and experience.
4 Linda Roszak Burton, Emotional Intelligence and Gratitude, University of Pennsylvania Wharton Healthcare Alumni Association (March 2, 2026), whartonhealthcare.org/emotional_intelligence_and_gratitude.
5 Roland Zahn, et al, The Neural Basis of Human Social Values: Evidence from Functional MRI, 19 Cereb Cortex 276 (2008), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2733324/#bib31. 
6 Id. 

The conference will be rebroadcasted virtually noon-3:54 p.m. Feb. 4 and April 3. 

Registration costs $50, and the program will be eligible for 4 MCLE, 4 Ethics, and 1 Elimination of Bias credits. Learn more and register at MoBarCLE.MoBar.org.

The conference will address relevant well-being topics, and attendees will learn tips that can help them even better serve their clients.

Presentations include:

— “The practicalities and ethics of balance, bias, and boundaries,” by Laurel Stevenson, director of the Mediation and Assessment Program, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri, Kansas City

— Better late than never: Embracing late-stage mental health diagnoses as an attorney, by Karly D. Weigel, Flynn Group, Overland Park, Kansas

— The impact of secondary trauma, by Loretta Oleksy and Jill Carnell, Thought Kitchen LLC, Indiana

— “Commercialized gambling: An overlooked behavioral addiction affecting lawyers and their clients,” by Michael K. Fagan, Washington University School of Law, St. Louis

MOLAP Director Stacy Parmer will moderate the rebroadcast and be available online to answer participants’ questions in the chat.

MOLAP strives to reduce the stigma surrounding substance misuse and mental health, because The Missouri Bar believes that everyone deserves easy access to the support they need. Even successful lawyers need assistance at times. Missouri lawyers should feel empowered to ask for help without the fear of judgment or repercussion.

MOLAP services include: 

— Counseling. All Missouri Bar members have access to services by calling 1-800-688-7859. MOLAP also makes referrals to professional resources as indicated.

— Crisis intervention. MOLAP coordinates crisis intervention services for individuals and law firms.

— Education and prevention. MOLAP offers educational programs and articles on topics such as substance use, stress, depression, and quality of life.

— Substance misuse support. Get connected immediately to a clinically trained substance use clinician, quick access to peer volunteers recovering from substance misuse, and individualized recovery plans.  

Visit MoBar.org/MOLAP for more information.

MOLAP will have in-person and virtual office hours for law students on the following days unless otherwise indicated.

University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law

Jan. 29, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Wellness Room 104A 

Feb. 11, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Wellness Room 104A 

March 11, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Wellness Room 104A 

April 22, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Wellness Room 104A

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law

Jan. 22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., virtual 

Feb. 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., virtual 

March 18, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., virtual 

April 29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., virtual

Saint Louis University School of Law

Jan. 14, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., virtual

Feb. 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., virtual

March 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., virtual

April 16, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., virtual

Washington University School of Law

Jan. 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Anheuser-Busch Hall Office of Student Life

Feb. 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Anheuser-Busch Hall Office of Student Life

March 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Anheuser-Busch Hall Office of Student Life

April 8, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Anheuser-Busch Hall Office of Student Life 

Come in during MOLAP’s office hours, schedule an appointment, or access services outside the scheduled office hours by calling 1-800-688-7859 or emailing molap@mobar.org.

Holidays can come with more opportunities to drink alcohol — from firm parties to end-of-year drinks with coworkers. The new year provides an opportunity for lawyers to consider their relationships with alcohol. Participating in “Dry January,” a month of sobriety from alcohol, can help lawyers adopt healthier habits and be more present and focused for clients.

According to the Bloomberg Law 2024 Attorney Well-Being Report, nearly 80% of respondents who consume alcohol drink to socialize with friends and family. A majority drink for coping reasons — including 50% who drink to relax and relieve stress, 10% who drink to numb emotions or quiet their minds, and 6% who drink to cope with emotional difficulties.¹

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism offers six tips for success during Dry January.²

1. Consider why you choose to drink alcohol. Is it to have fun at events, deal with stress and anxiety from work, or to fall asleep, or something else? Think about ways you could accomplish those objectives without alcohol, such as drinking mocktails at parties or doing yoga before bed.

2. Tell friends and family about your plan to participate in Dry January.

3. If possible, verify that alcohol-free beverages are available at events.

4. Have a polite, assertive “no, thanks” ready for when someone offers you a drink.

5. Pay attention to how you feel as the month progresses. If you notice you are sleeping better or have more energy, make a note to help keep your momentum going.

6. Have a plan in place for when the month ends. The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program can help develop a plan to keep you from resuming old patterns.

January is also Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month, which is dedicated to raising awareness about substance use disorder treatment and recovery by encouraging reflection and action at the beginning of the year.³ If you need help in developing a plan once Dry January ends or would like help regarding any kind of substance use disorder, reach out to MOLAP. 

At no cost, MOLAP can connect you to services including counseling, inpatient or outpatient treatment, medication-assisted treatment, community support groups, and your peer volunteers. MOLAP licensed clinicians have the diagnostic and therapeutic expertise to address substance misuse issues, which is essential when making ethically appropriate referrals to treatment. MOLAP is in constant connection with other lawyers’ assistance programs around the country to stay up to date on the best treatment centers for lawyers, so referrals are accurately individualized to your specific needs.  

MOLAP strives to reduce the stigma surrounding substance misuse and mental health because everyone deserves easy access to the support they need. Missouri lawyers can feel empowered to ask for help without fear of judgment or repercussion, because reaching out for help is a sign of strength and hope.

Visit MoBar.org/MOLAP to learn more about MOLAP’s services. Contact MOLAP by calling 1-800-688-7859 or emailing MOLAP@MoBar.org.

Endnotes

1 Patrick Krill et al., 2024 Attorney Well-Being Report: The Divide Between Health & the Legal Industry, Bloomberg Law (2024), https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bloomberg-law-analysis/analysis-report-highlights-risks-of-poor-attorney-well-being.

2 George F. Koob, Kicking off the new year with Dry January? Here are six tips for success, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (Jan. 3, 2025), https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/about-niaaa/directors-page/niaaa-directors-blog/kicking-new-year-with-dry-january-here-are-six-tips-success.

3 SAMHSA Kicks off Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month!, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (Jan. 5, 2026), https://www.aaap.org/samhsa-kicks-off-substance-use-disorder-treatment-month/.

Lawyers often encounter people in emotional pain, and the profession itself has elevated rates of depression, substance use, and suicide. Having strategies for working with others in a crisis can save lives.

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer. With simple, practical, and proven steps, QPR training is the most widely taught suicide prevention gatekeeper training in the world.

Missouri lawyers have access to eight QPR training courses scheduled throughout the year. The training is at no cost and approved for up to 1.6 hours of MCLE credit, including ethics.

Participants will become more comfortable and confident in broaching the sensitive subject of suicide, receive support resources, and have the opportunity to practice and discuss skills learned.

All trainings take place via Zoom. Participants will learn:

— The three steps of QPR; 
— How to identify basic myths and facts about suicide; 
— How to recognize warning signs; 
— How to ask the question;
— About offering hope;
— To practice asking someone about this topic, using examples that could take place in a legal setting;
— About recent research on lawyer and judicial well-being as time permits.

Each session is one-and-a-half hours long and limited to 25 participants. The session will conclude with recent research regarding lawyer and judicial well-being. Attendees will receive access to online support materials to reinforce the training, complete a pre- and post-test about their confidence in discussing the topic of suicide, and can print a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

Registration will close after the session reaches the maximum number of participants. 

Register

To register, first click on the link below your preferred time and date. After registering with the link below, MOLAP will send you a confirmation email with a unique link. Use that link to join the training, not the registration link below. 

Due to limited availability, please register only if you are certain you can attend.

Jan. 20, noon: https://mobar-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/YprmDBReSByLoasFyFUdaw

March 26, noon: https://mobar-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/V9Yw3muyTqa7MjwKUKEGsA

May 7, noon: https://mobar-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/-C_inHJaS2mPtENd_0bqSg

July 22, noon: https://mobar-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/OlKQdeOIT4O_wckC6d1zyQ

Sept. 3, noon: https://mobar-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/KbNEaYDvRNa4ZtDidSwcYw

Sept. 8, noon: https://mobar-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/ifTpUWmgTJWF29IMqt1HwQ

Sept. 23, noon: https://mobar-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/Vti4ikSOTU6JJMY1_abNUA

Nov. 17, noon: https://mobar-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/7WMZ50qZT4G80qP_vUNXAA

MOLAP Director Stacy Parmer will register participants through the QPR system after they complete the course. This will give participants access to the training pre-test, post-test, follow-up support materials, and allow them to provide instructor feedback to improve the quality of the training. 

Testimonials

Here are what past attendees have said about the QPR trainings offered by The Missouri Bar.

“This should be required training for all professionals. So much valuable information. Thank you!”

“Absolutely a wonderful training. It also evoked stronger emotions than any training I have done before.”

“I learned a lot. I think until I'm confronted with a suicidal situation, I won't know how confident I will feel about intervening ... however, I WILL intervene. I might not have done so prior to the training.”

“Having been a lawyer for 50-plus years and having experienced, and been around other lawyers experiencing, the smoldering pressure of law practice; and also having been a member of a family in which clinical depression was present, I wish I long ago had known what I learned today.”

“This was a fantastic training. Very informative and such important information. The role play at the end was a wonderful way to put what we discussed in class into practice. Thank you for offering this program!”

“This program is an excellent introduction into the subject matter. I absolutely think I'm much better equipped now than I was prior to the session.”

The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program is here to help lawyers, judges, and law students navigate anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and other concerns, helping them to even better serve their clients and communities.  

Confidential, no-cost counseling services 

MOLAP offers counseling at no cost. Talk with a licensed counselor and develop strategies to cope with anxiety, burnout, and more. Those with substance use concerns can be connected to a clinically trained substance use clinician and peer volunteers recovering from substance misuse. MOLAP can also help develop individualized recovery plans.  

All communication with MOLAP and its services are completely confidential. MOLAP works because it provides easy access to safe, no-cost, ethical, and confidential help before there are consequences or the issues become irreversible. 

Learn more about MOLAP’s services and answers to frequently asked questions here. Learn more about what happens after an individual calls MOLAP here.  

Other resources 

MOLAP coordinates crisis intervention services for individuals and law firms and offers crisis intervention CLEs at no cost throughout the year.  

It also offers a Model Policy for Law Firms that can be implemented in offices of all sizes, recognizing that law firms can play an important role in the well-being of lawyers. The model policy, endorsed by The Missouri Bar Board of Governors, is a valuable tool for law firms when addressing a lawyer’s substance use or mental health concerns. 

Community 

Through MOLAP, conversations about tough topics can help lawyers overcome challenges. To help facilitate these discussions, MOLAP coordinates resources and activities for Well-being Week in Law and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It also works with The Missouri Bar’s Standing Committee on Well-being in the Profession to provide resources and CLEs at no cost.  

Lawyers and judges can join the online Lawyers’ Assistance and Well-being Committee to further discuss well-being in the legal profession and make new connections. 

Reaching out for help is a sign of strength and hope. Visit MoBar.org/MOLAP, call 1-800-688-7859, or email MOLAP@MoBar.org for support.  

Athena Dickson is 2025-2026 Missouri Bar president.

As the year draws to a close, many of us — myself included — find ourselves racing toward the finish line. We’re finalizing cases, wrapping up projects, attending professional holiday parties, and preparing for family gatherings — all while trying to make sense of a calendar that somehow feels both full and fleeting. 

The end of the year is often a time of reflection, celebration, and connection. But for lawyers, it can also be a season of intensified stress. Court deadlines don’t disappear for the holidays. Clients often want answers before the new year begins. Our personal calendars fill up quickly. And in the rush to complete everything, it’s easy to put our own well-being last. 

I offer a simple but important reminder: Your well-being matters. Not just for you, but for your clients, your colleagues, your families, and our profession. 

Practicing law is demanding in every season, but the year’s end brings its own unique pressures. Along with financial and professional expectations, many of us find ourselves navigating the emotional weight that often accompanies the holidays. For some, this is a season of joy and connection; for others, it can feel isolating or overwhelming. 

This will be my first holiday season without my dad, and I feel a sense of apprehension about what the holidays will look and feel like. 

As lawyers, we’re trained to focus on solving other people’s problems. But we are not immune to fatigue, anxiety, or burnout. In fact, studies over the last several decades have shown that lawyers experience higher rates of stress and mental health challenges than the general population. Acknowledging that truth is not a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of wisdom. 

One of the most powerful things we can do as a profession is normalize conversations about well-being. Mental health should be treated with the same seriousness and compassion as physical health. Mental health is health. Taking time off, setting boundaries, or reaching out for help should be seen not as weaknesses, but as essential parts of being an effective and ethical lawyer. 

Creating a culture that supports well-being starts with leadership, but it doesn’t end there. Each of us can help — by checking in on colleagues, modeling healthy habits, and extending grace to one another during this busy time.

As we move through the coming weeks, consider these reminders: 

– Set boundaries intentionally. Communicate clearly with clients and colleagues about your availability and give yourself permission to rest and recharge. While we want to complete every task before the year’s end, it is important to be realistic about what is achievable so expectations remain manageable. 

– Take real breaks. Even a few days away from work can offer valuable perspective. The greater challenge is not stepping away from the office but stepping away from email. Though disconnecting fully can be difficult, it allows us to be truly present in other areas of our lives. 

– Recognize the warning signs. Irritability, exhaustion, or difficulty concentrating can indicate it is time to slow down. Listen to what your body and mind are telling you, and take steps to restore balance before burnout sets in. 

– Reach out for support. Whether through friends, family, colleagues, or professionals, talking openly about challenges or worries makes a meaningful difference.

Remember that the Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program is a confidential resource available at no cost to all Missouri lawyers and judges, immediate family members who reside with them, and law students. If you or someone you know needs support, contact MOLAP at 1-800-688-7859. If it’s an emergency, call 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. 

Reaching out is a sign of strength — and it can change lives. 

As we prepare to turn the page on another year, I encourage each of us to take stock not only of our professional accomplishments, but also of our personal well-being. Have you allowed yourself time to rest? Have you nurtured relationships outside of work? Have you given yourself permission to slow down, even briefly? 

The legal profession is a calling that demands much of us. Yet if we wish to continue serving our clients and communities, we must also care for ourselves. 

This holiday season, I hope you will create space for rest, connection, and reflection. Our work will be waiting for us in the new year. For now, let us allow ourselves a moment to pause, breathe, and simply be. 

Wishing you a peaceful and restorative holiday season.

The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program established this annual award to inspire lawyers and legal employers by the awardees’ examples.

Sweeney graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and works as the practice group leader for the Government Solutions & Administrative Law practice group at Lewis Rice. He was previously chief legal counsel for the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.

Sweeney works to expand awareness, reduce stigma, and ensure lawyers in need have access to confidential, compassionate help. Much of his work has been about building trust and encouraging colleagues to know that it’s ok to ask for help, he said.

He also strives to ensure the next generation of lawyers have a healthier understanding of balance, resilience, and recovery. He does this by working with firms, bar associations, and law schools to provide more education and resources.

“This award reflects values that I hold close to my heart: compassion, community, and the belief that every lawyer deserves the opportunity to find balance and well-being in their professional and personal lives,” Sweeney said.

He is grateful to be part of a legal community that acknowledges the importance of lawyer well-being and continues to move the conversation forward, he said.

Sweeney encouraged fellow lawyers to remember that being a good lawyer is about far more than the work they do; it’s also about how they care for themselves and those around them. Lawyers serve others best when they are healthy, balanced, and supported, he said.

“Look out for one another,” Sweeney said. “Reach out when you see someone struggling, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Strength in this profession doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from connection, empathy, and resilience. If you make those principles part of your practice from the very beginning, you’ll not only find fulfillment in your career, but you’ll also help make our legal community stronger for everyone.”

Sweeney accepted the James T. Britt Memorial Award as part of the virtual 30th annual Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Conference Oct. 24.

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar, The Missouri Bar Foundation, and other entities. Read about other 2025 award winners here.

The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program established this annual award to inspire lawyers and legal employers by the awardees’ examples.

Johnson graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and practices family law. Prior to joining Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C., Johnson ran a successful solo law practice. She is also a fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys.

She said receiving the Warren Welliver Award is deeply meaningful to her and served as a reminder that caring for the people around you is vital to the practice of law.

“The legal profession is often defined by competition and high pressure, and being recognized for supporting and uplifting colleagues reaffirms the importance of community and connection, two things that are incredibly important to me,” Johnson said.

The honor inspires her continued commitment to fostering a culture where lawyer well-being is prioritized, and every lawyer can feel valued, supported, and seen.

When lawyers prioritize their mental, emotional, and physical health, they not only protect themselves from burnout, but contribute to a more ethical, compassionate, and sustainable profession, Johnson said.

“Supporting one another, building a culture of respect, and normalizing conversations about stress and work-life flow … create a ripple effect that benefits clients, colleagues, and the justice system as a whole,” Johnson said. “Well-being is a shared responsibility, and a cornerstone of a thriving legal community. All lawyers should figure out how they should be contributing to the well-being of themselves and those around them.”

Johnson accepted the Warren Welliver Award as part of the virtual 30th annual Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Conference Oct. 24.

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar, The Missouri Bar Foundation, and other entities. Read about other 2025 award winners here.

Note: If you are in an emergency situation, please call 911. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, 24/7 support.

The legal profession often requires confrontation, long hours, and “perfect” work. The pressure can cause high rates of depression and substance use, which may interact with each other.

Lawyers are more prone to experiencing depression than their non-lawyer peers, according to a 2016 study by the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs Research and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.¹

Recent studies suggest that feelings of loneliness and excessive commitment significantly raise suicide risk among lawyers.²

Lawyers are also at higher risk for alcohol issues, with one study finding that 20.6% of lawyers screened positive for hazardous, harmful, and potentially alcohol-dependent drinking.³

When two illnesses or disorders occur in the same person, either at the same time or one after the other, they are known as comorbid conditions. Comorbidity indicates that these conditions may affect each other by influencing their development and prognosis.

Depression can lead to substance use as a form of self-medication, while substance use can worsen or trigger depressive symptoms. Both conditions share a common set of risk factors, such as genetic predispositions, environmental influences, and trauma. 

The American Addiction Centers found there was a strong connection between major depression and alcohol use disorder. A nationwide study found that over 20% of individuals surveyed suffering from a current alcohol addiction also met the criteria for that of a comorbid major depressive disorder.⁴

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that may initially function as a stimulant but quickly intensifies feelings of lethargy, drowsiness, and depression. Alcohol use, which lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment, can also increase the risk that a depressed individual will attempt suicide.

Alcohol and drug use can aggravate the symptoms of depression, increasing the likelihood of hospitalization and interfering with treatment including medications.⁵

The culture of the legal profession sometimes normalizes heavy drinking and substance misuse as stress coping mechanisms, leading to increased alcohol use and drug consumption, which exacerbates depressive symptoms and creates a cycle that is difficult to break.

If you or someone you know has been struggling with depression and/or substance misuse, the Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program is here to help. MOLAP can help you develop alternative coping strategies to break that cycle and deal with the unique challenges and stressors of the legal profession.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy are several evidence-based therapies that have been proven to be effective in treating co-occurring depression and substance use disorders. Additionally, therapy can help identify your specific symptoms and triggers and tailor coping skills for those symptoms.  

Here are a few coping skills to manage depression symptoms:⁶

1. Behavioral activation — engaging in an activity that you enjoy, even if it’s only for a short amount of time, such as exercise, hobbies, or personal care.
2. Gratitude or focusing on positive experiences can counteract the unhelpful thinking patterns associated with depression. Make it a point to begin or end your day by writing down three things you’re grateful for or three positive experiences you had and why you are grateful for them.
3. Mindfulness can help keep you grounded in the present and reduce rumination and worry by noticing your thoughts and feelings without judgment.
4. Increased social support can reduce the isolation associated with depression by connecting with others. MOLAP offers peer support through volunteers and can refer you to a community support group in your home area. You can also volunteer through MOLAP. Helping others can generate a positive mindset, reduce feelings of loneliness, and provide a sense of purpose.  

MOLAP also offers regular mental health assessments, substance use assessments, and strategies for promoting prevention, which can enhance the overall well-being among lawyers and help them even better serve their clients and communities. 

Talk with someone about coping mechanisms or other challenges you are facing at no cost by emailing MOLAP@MoBar.org or calling 1-800-688-7859. Learn more about MOLAP’s services at MoBar.org/MOLAP.

Endnotes: 

1 Patrick Krill, et. al, The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys, 10 J. OF ADDICTION MED. 46 (2016).

2 Patrick R. Krill et al., Stressed, Lonely, and Overcommitted: Predictors of Lawyer Suicide Risk, 11 HEALTHCARE 536, (2023).

3 Patrick Krill, et. al, The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys, 10 J. OF ADDICTION MED. 46 (2016).

4 Laura Close, Depression & Substance Use Disorder, American Addiction Centers (March 31, 2025), https://americanaddictioncenters.org/co-occurring-disorders/depressive-disorders.  

5 Id.

6 Coping Skills: Depression, therapistaid (2020), https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheet/coping-skills-depression.

The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program established this annual award to encourage lawyers and legal employers to be inspired by the awardees’ examples.

Haynes is a lawyer in Mid-Missouri and graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law. She previously worked with the 13th Judicial Circuit, primarily as a deputy juvenile officer. She has worked for the State of Missouri in various capacities for more than three decades and currently works for the Division of Legal Services for the Department of Social Services.

Haynes has provided and arranged CLEs for hundreds of lawyers but is most proud of instituting a wellness component to the annual CLE for the Division of Legal Services.

“I speak openly about my own recovery journey and share my experience, strength, and hope with those attorneys (and their staff members) who want assistance in order to provide encouragement and information to demystify recovery,” Haynes said.

Haynes’ message is clear: Taking care of yourself so you can give back to others is not selfish — it is necessary. While assertiveness is appropriate and necessary in the legal profession, she has found that altruism and cooperation are often far more important.

“Helping individuals to persevere is what attorneys do,” Haynes said. “Attorneys need to maintain their own sense of balance and well-being in order to accomplish that, and united, we can accomplish more. None of that would be sustainable without my sobriety.”

Haynes accepted the Dorothy Kaiser Award as part of the virtual 30th annual Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Conference Oct. 24.

Click here to learn more about annual awards presented by The Missouri Bar, The Missouri Bar Foundation, and other entities. Read about other 2025 award winners here. 

This year’s virtual MOLAP Conference will again provide relevant and insightful sessions on a variety of topics.

The conference will take place from noon-3:50 p.m., and registration is $50. Attendees can earn up to 4.0 MCLE, 4.0 Ethics, 1.0 Elimination of Bias, and 4.0 Kansas Ethics credits through the programming. 

Speakers and topics 
Laurel Stevenson, director of the Mediation and Assessment Program with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, will present about the practicalities and ethics of balance, bias, and boundaries.

Karly Weigel of the Flynn Group in Overland Park, Kansas, will describe how lawyers can embrace mental health diagnoses they receive later in life.

Loretta Oleksy and Jill Carnell, both of Thought Kitchen LLC in Indiana, will discuss the impact of secondary trauma on lawyers.

Michael K. Fagan of the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis will present about the risk lawyers and their clients face from the explosion of legalized commercial gambling.

To register for in-person or virtual attendance, go to MoBarCLE.MoBar.org.

The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program is a free, professional, confidential counseling program for members of The Missouri Bar, their families, and law students in Missouri. Through a variety of free services, MOLAP helps individuals overcome personal concerns with mental health, substance use, stress, anxiety, and burnout. Additional details are available at MoBar.org/MOLAP.  

MOLAP will have in-person and virtual office hours for law students on the following days unless otherwise indicated.

University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law

9 a.m.-2 p.m., Sept. 11, 2025, Wellness Room 104A  

9 a.m.-2 p.m., Oct. 16, 2025, Wellness Room 104A  

9 a.m.-2 p.m., Nov. 20, 2025, Wellness Room 104A  

9 a.m.-2 p.m., Dec. 4, 2025, virtual

Saint Louis University School of Law 

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sept. 22, 2025, 1005C      

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Oct. 22, 2025, 1005C  

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Nov. 3, 2025, 1050D  

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Dec. 3, 2025, virtual  

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law 

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sept. 10, 2025, virtual  

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Oct. 30, 2025, virtual  

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Nov. 13, 2025, virtual  

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Dec. 11, 2025, virtual

Washington University School of Law 

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sept. 8, 2025, Anheuser-Busch Hall Office of Student Life Suite 210  

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Oct. 14, 2025, Anheuser-Busch Hall Office of Student Life Suite 210  

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Nov. 4, 2025, Anheuser-Busch Hall Office of Student Life, Suite 210  

Drop in during our office hours, schedule an appointment, or access services outside the scheduled office hours by calling 1-800-688-7859 or emailing molap@mobar.org.

Note: If you are in an emergency situation, please call 911. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, 24/7 support.

My uncle died by suicide when I was young. I can't remember how I found out he’d had a fatal suicide attempt. I just remember how odd it was that no one in the family really spoke about it, and any questions we had were always dismissed or ignored. 

The silence surrounding his death echoed through our family gatherings throughout the years and made me realize this silence was not just about our loss; it was a collective avoidance of topics that our society often ignores, which are the reality of mental health struggles and the need for suicide awareness. 

As I grew older, the absence of open dialogue about my uncle's death led me into the mental health field to explore the psychology of human emotion and behavior. I wanted to understand what led him to take his life.

Today, decades later, I think of my uncle often. I reflect on the effect his death had on our family and what might be different if we had talked about it. By practicing suicide prevention awareness, we can break the cycle of silence surrounding suicide and speak openly about mental health with compassion and empathy, honoring those we have lost while creating a safe space for others to seek help and find hope.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time dedicated to fostering dialogue around mental health and taking actionable steps toward preventing suicide. This month serves as a reminder that mental health is health, and each one of us plays a role in promoting awareness, combating stigma, and encouraging those in our lives to seek support.

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 730,000 people die by suicide each year, which translates to one person every 40 seconds¹. Missouri has the 15th-highest suicide rate in the nation, and the majority of fatal suicide attempts are individuals between the ages of 25-64, with male suicides being 4x higher than females.²

“Lawyers are prone to mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse which are strongly linked to suicide risk,” stated a 2023 study.³ An estimated 11% percent of lawyers in the U.S. have experienced suicidal thoughts. Just like physical health, mental health requires attention, care, and support.

One of the most significant barriers to effective suicide prevention in the legal profession is the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Many lawyers fear being judged or ostracized if they admit to struggling with their mental health. This stigma can deter them from seeking the help they need, leading to tragic consequences.

The legal profession must collectively work to dismantle this stigma by creating an environment where mental health discussions are normalized. By sharing personal stories, whether they are your own experiences or those of someone close, you can help others feel less alone and more understood. One of the most important aspects of suicide prevention is encouraging individuals to seek support through friends, family, or mental health professionals. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength and hope.

Please join us as we support and discuss suicide prevention awareness. The Missouri Bar’s Standing Committee on Well-being in the Profession and The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program are sponsoring a virtual no-cost CLE documentary, “Suicide: The Ripple Effect” at 4 p.m. Sept. 24,  with a live discussion panel immediately following.

You can volunteer, donate, or participate in one of the five Out of the Darkness community suicide prevention walks led by your colleagues in one of the cities linked below:

• St. Louis, Sept. 28 – Creve Coeur Lake Park, led by Daniel Barnett-Foster in conjunction with the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.
• Joplin, Oct. 4 – Landreth Park, led by Johnny Boyer.
• Greene County, Sept. 27 – Battlefield City Park, led by Erica Mynarich.
• Kansas City, Oct. 4 – English Landing Park, led by Lillian Mehler.
• Columbia, Oct. 19 – Bethel Park, led by Stacy Parmer.

MOLAP is offering two crisis response trainings on Sept. 10 and 24 from noon-1:30 p.m.

Resources:

Contact MOLAP at molap@mobar.org or by calling 1-800-688-7859.

Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Learn more at 988lifeline.org.

Learn more about the National Out of the Darkness Walks and Suicide Prevention Month from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: afsp.org.

Endnotes:  

1 Suicide, World Health Organization, (March. 25, 2025), https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide.

2 Suicide in Missouri: Where We Stand 2023, Missouri Department of Mental Health, https://dmh.mo.gov/media/pdf/suicide-missouri-where-we-stand-0.

3 Patrick R. Krill et al., Stressed, Lonely, and Overcommitted: Predictors of Lawyer Suicide Risk, 11 HEALTHCARE 536, (2023).

Lawyers have reported having more days with suicidal ideation than the general working population.¹ September is national Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and several Missouri lawyers are leading Out of the Darkness Walks across the state to raise awareness and funds to help prevent suicide.

There will be five walks across the state, and anyone can participate at no cost. Click on the links below to see more information about registration, exact locations, and start times. You can also use the links to donate if you can’t attend.  

1. St. Louis, Sept. 28 – Creve Coeur Lake Park, led by Daniel Barnett-Foster in conjunction with the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.
2. Joplin, Oct. 4 – Landreth Park, led by Johnny Boyer.
3. Greene County, Sept. 27 – Battlefield City Park, led by Erica Mynarich.
4. Kansas City, Oct. 4 – English Landing Park, led by Lillian Mehler.
5. Columbia, Oct. 19 – Bethel Park, led by Stacy Parmer.

Learn more about the national Out of the Darkness Walks through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention here.

Missouri lawyers and law students have access to free, confidential counseling through the Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program. Learn more at MoBar.org/MOLAP.

If in an emergency, call 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Endnotes: 

1 Matthew S. Thiese et al., Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation Among Lawyers and Other Law Professionals, 63 J. OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MED. 381-386 (2021).

Over the last several years, I have had the honor of working with The Missouri Bar through the Lawyers Living Well Special Committee (which has now evolved into the Standing Committee on Well-being in the Profession) on initiatives which seek to provide awareness, education, and stigma reduction as it relates to our profession and issues surrounding mental illness, substance abuse, and overall lawyer well-being. 

One aspect I frequently reflect on in relation to my work with the bar on these initiatives is how deeply personal all of this is to me. For much of my time as an attorney, I have been very vocal about my own mental health struggles, particularly with depression and anxiety. I have publicly shared my experiences with taking medication, seeking therapy and, in 2023, undergoing electroconvulsive therapy for treatment of my depression. My hope has always been that my willingness to be vulnerable will help others feel less alone and more encouraged to seek help. 

People are often uncomfortable with discussing mental health and, more specifically, mental illness. There is an overwhelming amount of stigma attached to this subject, and also alarming disregard for it, particularly in this profession. But sometimes sitting with and examining our discomfort brings understanding and a shift in perspective, perhaps even growth. 

And so, in the spirit of dismantling this wall of stigma and avoidance in pursuit of awareness and true buy-in from all members of our profession, I write this letter to — from a place of great care — make everyone a little uncomfortable. I want to discuss suicide. 

In the March-April 2025 issue of the Journal of The Missouri Bar, President Shelly Dreyer cited a statistic from the American Bar Association National Task Force for Lawyer Well-Being stating that 11% of lawyers have considered death by suicide.¹ It is important to note that suicidal ideation, defined by the Cleveland Clinic as “think[ing] about, consider[ing], or feel[ing] preoccupied with the idea of death and suicide” can be “active” or “passive,” with active ideation entailing a plan of action to harm oneself and passive ideation lacking a plan to self-harm, but still including thoughts of such.² 

There are many factors, all of which depend on the individual, that may cause a person to suffer from suicidal ideation, attempt suicide, or, in the worst-case scenario, complete an attempt. But as President Dreyer noted in her article, lawyers suffer from struggles with their mental health and substance abuse at rates which far exceed those of the general population. The Cleveland Clinic confirms that underlying mental health conditions and substance use disorders can cause suicidal ideation and additionally cites risk factors such as stress and interpersonal relationships. 

It is no secret that our profession often entails high-pressure, stressful situations, and interpersonal relationships that are inherently oppositional due to the nature of our work. However, what does it say about our profession that so many lawyers suffer mentally (many in silence) and that 11% of us have considered ending our lives (plan in place or not)? What is it about the practice of law that drives so many attorneys to feel there is no path through, only out? 

If you were to ask some members of this profession, their answer would be that lawyers who suffer from mental illness simply are not built for this profession. They are too mentally weak or lazy or thin-skinned to handle the pressures of the job. They need to toughen up, work harder, and leave their feelings out of it. And if they ultimately cannot handle said pressures? Well, that is on them. 

If you ask me (and many others), people who express these kinds of sentiments in response to the very real, critical, and widespread struggles of their peers are part of the problem. This type of messaging only furthers stigma, pushes people into silent suffering, and creates work environments ripe for toxic, abusive behavior which ultimately is dismissed and excused as simply being part of the job. 

As someone who has previously in my career been subjected to such behavior and suffered greatly for it mentally — including grappling with suicidal ideation — let me make this clear: There is no profession or work environment on this planet that should foster the belief that suffering is to be expected and complaining about it makes one weak. 

While it is true that we cannot effectively serve our clients if we are not mentally well, the most important part in all of this has nothing to do with how successful we are at our jobs. The most crucial part is that we cannot afford to lose one more member of our profession because they feel they do not deserve to be alive. 

And the ugly parts of our profession — the toxic work environments, abusive behavior, expectation that we operate as robots for the sake of the job — not only should not exist, but should never be a contributing factor to whether one of our peers contemplates, attempts, or completes an act of self-harm. 

We must sit with the uncomfortable knowledge that aspects of our profession are harming us, and we must stop viewing this issue as one’s personal problem and start seeing it for what it is: an indictment of the negative ways in which we operate as a profession. We must continue to dismantle the system of stigma and silence by which we operate and shine light on the importance of not just the well-being of the lawyer, but of the person. 

Simply put, we must learn to better care for and about one another. We cannot lose one more person.

Tara Moreland 
Kansas City

Endnotes 

1 If you are in an emergency situation, call 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. 

2 Suicidal Ideation (Suicidal Thoughts), CLEVELAND CLINIC, July 23, 2024, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/suicidal-ideation.

Jane has vicarious trauma, which is a gradual and cumulative change in a person's worldview, beliefs, and emotional responses because of repeatedly hearing or witnessing traumatic experiences of others. It can lead to a changed perception of safety, trust, and justice, and it can impact a person's sense of self.¹

John Doe is a lawyer who hears the details of a traumatic accident and experiences intense flashbacks and anxiety but does not develop a fundamentally different worldview.

John likely has secondary traumatic stress, which is the experience of PTSD-like symptoms (e.g., re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal) after hearing or witnessing someone else's trauma. It can occur after a single event or repeated exposure to traumatic material and can lead to emotional distress, anxiety, and difficulty functioning.

A 2021 study about secondary trauma in the legal profession found that:

legal professionals, particularly those employed in criminal law, will experience work with vulnerable victims of crime. This exposure implies contact with traumatogenic material, such as graphic, injurious, photographic evidence or witness accounts and narratives of traumatic events, accompanied by heightened levels of emotions and distress from clients.² 

When it comes to vicarious or secondary trauma, it’s important for lawyers to be aware of what may trigger a trauma response. Triggers are events or personality types that cause an intense emotional response, and they are different for each person.

Examples of triggers in the legal profession are abuse of vulnerable populations, certain kinds of disrespect, unfair or unjust realities of life/systems, events that open old wounds or cut too close to home, and double binds. Double binds are the conflicting demands from your client, the court, or ethical guidelines, and the feeling that, no matter what action you take, you risk negative consequences.

Common responses to triggers are intense anger, depression, withdrawal, anxiety, or substance use and physical issues such as headaches, stomach problems, back pain, and fatigue.

Prioritizing mental health by understanding the difference between secondary and vicarious trauma and how it impacts you is essential for improving individual well-being in the legal profession and helping to even better serve your clients and communities. 

The Vicarious Trauma Scale (VTS) was developed during a study exploring vicarious trauma in the legal profession.³ The eight items assess subjective levels of distress associated with working with traumatized clients.  

For each item, select a number below that corresponds to how strongly you agree or disagree with the statement:

1. Strongly disagree 

 2. Disagree  

3. Slightly disagree  

4. Neither agree nor disagree  

5. Slightly agree  

6. Agree  

7. Strongly agree 

Statements:

1. My job involves exposure to distressing material and experiences.  

2. My job involves exposure to traumatized or distressed clients.  

3. I find myself distressed by listening to my clients’ stories and situations. 

4. I find it difficult to deal with the content of my work.  

5. I find myself thinking about distressing material at home.  

6. Sometimes I feel helpless to assist my clients in the way I would like.  

7. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the workload involved in my job.  

8. It is hard to stay positive and optimistic given some of the things I encounter in my work. 

Tally your scores. The higher the score, the higher the level of distress.  

The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program is here to help support you through vicarious or secondary trauma. If you would like to talk more about trauma, you can call 1-800-688-7859 to talk to a licensed counselor at no cost. All services are strictly confidential.

MOLAP can also connect you to peer volunteers who have had similar experiences or other resources to support you. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength and hope.

 Visit https://MoBar.org/MOLAP for more information.

Editor’s note: The information in this article does not constitute a formal diagnosis. Please see a medical professional for an official diagnosis.
 

Endotes: 

1 Amy Marschall, Vicarious Trauma: The Cost of Care and Compassion, Verywell Mind, April 30, 2023, https://www.verywellmind.com/vicarious-trauma-the-cost-of-care-and-compassion-7377234.

2 Stine Iversen, Noelle Robertson, Prevalence and predictors of secondary trauma in the legal profession: a systematic review, 28 Psychiatr Psychol Law, 802-822 (2021), https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35694647/.

3 Vrklevski L.P., Franklin J., Vicarious Trauma Scale, APA PsycTests, 2008, https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Ft03119-000.

The Missouri Bar introduced MOLAP in 1991, expanding upon previous programs to provide preventative information along with counseling “to address personal and professional problems produced by all causes.”¹

“High stress professions, such as law, produce a higher percentage of emotional problems than are found in the general population,” wrote Keith A. Birkes, then-Missouri Bar executive director, in a 1991 column in the Journal of The Missouri Bar. “Because of the position of trust that judges and lawyers occupy, it is particularly important to prevent and treat impairment in the most effective ways possible.”

Today, MOLAP still aims to help legal professionals by providing education, prevention, confidential counseling, and referral assistance to members of the bar, law students, and their families for substance use, depression, marital and family matters, stress, burnout, and other personal concerns that adversely affect personal or professional well-being.

Since some untreated problems become impairments leading to ethical and professional violations, MOLAP also strives to protect clients and the reputation of the legal profession.

The Missouri Bar created a model policy in 2013 to provide guidance for law firms to be able to competently address substance use or mental health concerns within their firms.

In the last nearly 35 years, MOLAP has helped thousands of individuals overcome personal and professional concerns.

Learn more about MOLAP at mobar.org/MOLAP. Call 1-800-688-7859 to talk about any personal or professional concerns such as substance use, depression, stress, or burnout.

If you are in an emergency situation, please call 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. 

Endnote: 

1 Keith A. Birkes, Your Bar at Work: Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program (MOLAP), 47 J. MO. B. 221 (April-May 1991).

The Missouri Bar is one of numerous state bars across the country disseminating the anonymous survey to a random sample of lawyers. Approximately 14,000 lawyers will be randomly selected from The Missouri Bar and invited to participate in this research study. If you are selected, you will receive an email from The Missouri Bar with more information and a link to complete the survey. This survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. This is a different survey from the well-being survey The Missouri Bar conducted separately this year.

The survey aims to provide a 10-year update to and build upon the landmark 2016 ABA-Hazelden Betty Ford study, reflecting substantial shifts in the legal profession over the past decade, including changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and an increasing role of technology in legal practice.

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 behavioral 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 include methodological enhancements (e.g., a random sample) to reach an even wider cross-section of the lawyer population. 

Raw data collected in this survey will not be shared with The Missouri Bar. The only information that will be shared with The Missouri Bar is an aggregate summary of all-member responses to various survey measures (e.g. demographics, anxiety, 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 should be directed to Dr. Justin Anker, principal investigator, or Patrick Krill, co-investigator:
 

Justin Anker, Ph.D.

Office: 763-620-0615

anke0022@umn.edu

Patrick Krill, J.D., LL.M, M.A.

Office: 724-719-2134

Patrick@prkrill.com

Lawyers often encounter people in emotional pain, and the profession itself has elevated rates of depression, substance use, and suicide. Having strategies for working with others in a crisis can save lives.

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer. With simple, practical, and proven steps, QPR training is the most widely taught suicide prevention gatekeeper training in the world.

Missouri lawyers have access to 12 QPR training courses scheduled throughout the year. The training is at no cost and approved for up to 1.6 hours of MCLE credit, including ethics.

Participants will become more comfortable and confident in broaching the sensitive subject of suicide, receive support resources, and have the opportunity to practice and discuss skills learned.

All trainings take place via Zoom. Participants will learn:

— The three steps of QPR; 
— How to identify basic myths and facts about suicide; 
— How to recognize warning signs; 
— How to ask the question;
— About offering hope;
— To practice asking someone about this topic, using examples that could take place in a legal setting;
— About recent research on lawyer and judicial well-being as time permits.

Each session is two hours long and limited to 25 participants. The session will conclude with recent research regarding lawyer and judicial well-being.  Attendees will receive access to online support materials to reinforce the training, complete a pre- and post-test about their confidence in discussing the topic of suicide, and can print a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

Registration will close after the session reaches the maximum number of participants. 

Register 
To register, first click on the link below your preferred time and date. After registering with the link below, MOLAP will send you a confirmation email with a unique link. Use that link to join the training, not the registration link below. 

Due to limited availability, please register only if you are certain you can attend.

Sept. 10, noon-2 p.m. (full)
https://mobar-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/X4xXbgtqQce6KkvaU0h2rA

Sept. 24, noon-2 p.m. (full)
https://mobar-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/ic-lxvxATriwqREZydyFHg

Oct. 15, noon-2 p.m.
https://mobar-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/_OYtEKbYSduGap2GgqCX_Q

Nov. 12, noon-2 p.m.
https://mobar-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/gumSg9xFRF2y9Tn_rXgvFw

Dec. 10, noon-2 p.m.
https://mobar-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/DzqItXQcSF2FW_8LR6cDVw

MOLAP Director Stacy Parmer will register participants through the QPR system after they complete the course. This will give participants access to the training pre-test, post-test, follow-up support materials, and allow them to provide instructor feedback to improve the quality of the training. 

July 24^th is International Self-Care Day, serving as a reminder to prioritize and make self-care a daily habit.

According to the Global Self-Care Federation¹, “Self-care is the practice of individuals looking after their own health using the knowledge and information available to them. It is a decision-making process that empowers individuals to look after their own health efficiently and conveniently, in collaboration with health and social care professionals as needed.”

Self-care can be about understanding your limitations on a given day. On the days I neglect to prioritize and create a to-do list, I find myself unable to fully concentrate on any given task. I toggle between multiple open tabs: email, projects, messaging, phone, and social media, which can be overwhelming and stifle my productivity.

The brain can only actually focus on one task at a time. The change from one task to another creates a “switch cost,” when it takes more time to refocus and can lead to slower work rates and more mistakes, ultimately impacting your practice. It can also increase stress hormones and lead to feelings of anxiety and burnout, which lawyers are already susceptible to, even on the best day. Research indicates that multitasking can negatively affect memory, attention span, and even brain structure, potentially leading to cognitive decline over time.²

However, you don’t just engage in multitasking at work, you inevitably carry these open tabs home with you, perpetuating the cycle of stress. You may toggle between dinner, email, family time, calls/texts, bedtime routines, and document review.

Here are some helpful tips for self-care:

• “No” is a complete sentence.
• Limit checking emails to three times a day.
• Work on ONE task at a time.
• Resist the urge to procrastinate.
• Understanding what work/life balance looks like for you.
• Prioritize works tasks. “Eat your frogs” by completing the task you most dread first.

At the core of self-care are the decisions you make daily on what is and isn’t healthy in your life in order to take better care of yourself and your clients. Let go of the need to always be doing something and stop multitasking. The act of multitasking, while often glorified in the busy culture of the legal profession, is not only unproductive but detrimental to your mental health and well-being. It is the antithesis to self-care.

Remember don’t just minimize your tabs, close them.

 To assess your level of self-care, use this assessment: https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/self-care-assessment

MOLAP can help Missouri lawyers work on these self-care strategies. Call 1-800-688-7859 to talk to a licensed counselor at no cost. All services are strictly confidential.

Endnotes:

 1 What is self-care, Global Self-Care Federation, https://www.selfcarefederation.org/what-is-self-care.

2 Adam Gorlick, Media multitaskers pay mental price, Stanford study shows, Stanford Report, Aug. 24, 2009, https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2009/08/multitask-research-study-082409#:~:text=People%20who%20are%20regularly%20bombarded,of%20Stanford%20researchers%20has%20found.

Reaching out for help by calling MOLAP at 1-800-688-7859 is a great first step toward hope and recovery. What happens next will depend on the individuals’ specific needs. 

All MOLAP callers will first be connected with MOLAP Director Stacy Parmer, a licensed mental health clinician with specialized credentialing in substance use.

Parmer has eight years of experience in case management and therapy in inpatient treatment centers and is trained to quickly and accurately assess the needs of the caller and provide immediate support, whatever that may be.

An individual calls for themself

Typically, Parmer will implement a thorough and confidential biopsychological assessment that ensures callers receive individualized, tailored assistance, which ultimately leads to more effective outcomes and is aligned with best practices.

The individualized assistance can take several different forms, including mental health counseling, referral to specialized resources such as treatment centers or support groups, connection to peer support, 24/7 helplines, or career counseling and assistance with transitions such as changes in workload.

If a caller is in crisis, Parmer will conduct a very brief assessment to determine the next steps, depending on the nature of the crisis. For example, if the client is seriously considering suicide, MOLAP will ensure their immediate safety and help.

This empathetic and ethical approach allows MOLAP to create a safe environment, gain the trust of the caller, and guide them through various options so they can make the decision that best works for them.

An individual calls to make a referral

MOLAP receives calls/referrals from colleagues, judges, disciplinary counsel, certified grievance committees, admissions committees, defense counsel, spouses, children, law school administrators and professors, and the occasional client.

When one of these individuals calls, Parmer will try to get as much detail as possible in order to better understand the situation and how MOLAP can assist.

For example, if a judge reaches out with concern about the cognitive decline of an older lawyer but does not know how to approach the individual or what to say, MOLAP can coach them and eventually become directly involved if needed. MOLAP typically would not open a file in this situation.

If an associate calls to ask for guidance about a partner or situation, MOLAP will coach them through the best steps to take and/or provide referral resources. MOLAP can also provide referrals for treatment centers or mental health providers for a lawyer who has a family member with an impairment requiring treatment.

Referrals may include community support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, depression, grief, or anxiety support groups, pain management clinics, medication assisted treatment, or MOLAP’s peer-to-peer support program.

Occasionally MOLAP might ask one or two volunteers who have been through something similar to reach out to the lawyer. Most lawyers are willing to take the meetings with the volunteers, even if they are not willing to accept help at that moment in time. Many clients report that they called the volunteers back months later when they were willing to get assistance.

Sometimes MOLAP will provide information to the caller on how to approach a troubled person, and that results in a call from a new client.

Confidentiality

MOLAP has and will always harbor a culture of confidentiality and support that encourages individuals to seek help without the fear of repercussions or adverse consequences.

MOLAP will not tell the individual who referred them to MOLAP without permission.

Nothing callers say will be disclosed to the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, The Missouri Bar, or the Supreme Court of Missouri. The MOLAP director is the only staff member with access to confidential client information. The MOLAP administrative assistant has restricted access only to view client demographics.

Reaching out for help can allow lawyers to take better care of themselves and their clients, helping their careers. Reaching out to MOLAP cannot negatively impact a lawyers’ license or career.

If you are in an emergency situation, please call 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. 

Read answers to frequently asked questions about MOLAP here.

The 30th annual MOLAP conference will be virtual Oct. 24. Past conference topics have included how trauma affects lawyers, how narcissism can appear in the legal profession, and how a holistic approach to practice can help lawyers reduce stress.

Selected speakers will receive complimentary registration and can receive MCLE credit. More information will be provided after presentations have been selected.

MOLAP helps individuals overcome concerns such as substance use, depression, stress, and burnout through a variety of no-cost services. MOLAP provides a professional, confidential counseling program for members of The Missouri Bar, immediate family members who reside with them, and law students. Call 1-800-688-7859 or visit MoBar.org/MOLAP for more information.

Shelly Dreyer is 2024-2025 Missouri Bar president.

I’ve wanted to be a lawyer since I was a little girl. To me, the people who stood up for the rights of others and the judges who ensured justice was served were heroes. That admiration has only deepened as I’ve witnessed the extraordinary dedication of these guardians of our democratic principles. 

On April 11, The Missouri Bar Board of Governors adopted a resolution that reaffirms the bar’s commitment to supporting lawyers, judges, and courts. The board recognizes that our democracy is founded upon and depends upon legal principles that ensure no person is above the law, that laws are publicly and widely known, that laws apply equally to all and are equally enforced, and that disputes are settled by an independent judiciary. 

Public trust in our judicial system depends on widespread understanding of how courts function and why judicial independence matters. When judges face criticism for applying established legal principles, it can affect the integrity of our entire justice system. 

The Missouri Bar believes in protecting our legal institutions because they serve as the foundation of our democracy. 

The judiciary plays a unique role in our system of government. Courts serve as neutral arbiters where disputes can be resolved fairly, where constitutional rights are protected, and where all citizens stand as equals. For this system to work effectively, judges must be able to make decisions based on legal principles without concern for public opinion or outside pressure. We as lawyers understand this balance and can help others appreciate it, too. 

A cornerstone of our legal system is that laws must be applied equally to all individuals, regardless of status, wealth, or background. When the public sees this principle in action, trust in our institutions grows. Conversely, when people perceive that justice is not administered fairly and impartially, confidence in our entire system erodes. As lawyers, we play a crucial role in ensuring this equal application of the law through our advocacy and professional conduct. 

I’ve seen firsthand how this commitment plays out in courtrooms across our state. Earlier this year, I watched a judge carefully explain her ruling to a disappointed litigant, taking extra time to ensure they understood the legal reasoning behind the decision. It was a small moment, but it reflected the dedication to transparency and fairness that makes our system work. 

We, as lawyers, have numerous opportunities to strengthen these institutions through our daily work. When we explain to clients how courts reach decisions based on law rather than popularity, we help build public understanding. When we maintain respectful discourse even while disagreeing with a judicial ruling, we model how democratic debate should function. Each of us contributes to the health of our justice system through these everyday actions. 

Equally important is the principle that lawyers must be able to represent clients without fear of harassment, intimidation, or reprisal. This fundamental protection allows us to provide zealous representation even for unpopular clients or controversial causes. When lawyers face threats or pressure for fulfilling this essential role, the administration of justice itself is threatened. By standing firm in our commitment to this principle, we ensure that all members of society can access legal representation and that our system functions as intended. 

Early in my career, a colleague took on a deeply unpopular client in a high-profile case. The criticism she faced was intense, but she remained steadfast in her belief that everyone deserves competent representation. Years later, that same dedication to principle continues to inspire me and many others in our profession. 

Public trust in the legal system doesn’t happen automatically — it must be earned through consistent demonstration of fairness, accessibility, and integrity. When citizens believe that courts function independently and lawyers serve as honest advocates, they’re more likely to respect judicial decisions and resolve disputes through legal channels rather than alternative means. This trust forms the foundation upon which our entire justice system rests. 

In our practices across Missouri, we enhance access to justice when we take on pro bono cases or support legal aid organizations. We strengthen the profession when we mentor new lawyers and model ethical behavior. We contribute to public understanding when we speak at community events or write articles explaining legal concepts in accessible terms. These actions may seem small individually but collectively make a profound difference. 

The preamble to Rule 7 of the Missouri Rules of Professional Responsibility, which establishes The Missouri Bar, creates the responsibility of all Missouri lawyers to “strive at all times to uphold the honor and maintain the dignity of the profession and to improve not only the law but the administration of justice.” This responsibility guides us as we seek to serve our clients while also serving the broader interest of justice. From rural and metropolitan areas of Missouri, lawyers put these principles into practice every day. 

Our local bar associations provide valuable forums where we can discuss challenges facing the profession and develop solutions together. Whether through continuing education programs, community outreach initiatives, or collaborative advocacy efforts, these organizations help us work collectively to support our justice system. I’ve found some of my most valuable professional relationships through these associations, and the camaraderie we share strengthens our resolve to uphold these important principles. 

Though we face many challenges in today’s complex world, our commitment to core legal principles remains unwavering. We are living in a particularly challenging time when fundamental democratic values are being tested, when polarization threatens our ability to find common ground, and when the very institutions that provide stability are under scrutiny. 

Yet, these difficult moments are precisely when our dedication to principle matters most. By upholding professional standards, supporting judicial independence, and promoting public understanding of the law, we help ensure that our democratic institutions remain strong for generations to come. 

The work we do matters — not just for our individual clients but for our entire society. Through thoughtful advocacy, ethical practice, and dedicated service, Missouri lawyers continue to play a vital role in preserving the principles that make our system of justice work for everyone. Each time we enter a courtroom, draft a document, or counsel a client, we have the opportunity to strengthen these principles and renew our commitment to the ideals that have guided our profession for generations. 

As I reflect on my years in practice, I’m reminded that being a Missouri lawyer is both a privilege and a responsibility — one that connects us to a proud tradition while challenging us to ensure our system of justice remains vibrant and accessible for all. Together, we can meet that challenge.

The Missouri Bar 2024-2025 Leadership Academy class did a Q&A with lawyers Morry Cole, Steven Kretzer, Amy Rebecca Johnson, Hon. Lisa Page, and Commissioner William Gust about how their passions and hobbies outside the courtroom — from flying and weightlifting to acting, yoga, and cooking — enhance their focus, resilience, and ultimately, their ability to serve clients.

As part of its year-long service project, the Leadership Academy class, in collaboration with the Standing Committee on Well-Being in the Profession, created well-being activities and programs offered during Well-Being Week in Law to enhance Missouri lawyers’ competence and help them even better serve their clients and communities.

Visit MoBar.org/WWIL2025 to view more well-being activities related to physical, spiritual, career and intellectual, social, and emotional well-being. Remember to track your participation during WWIL for the chance to win prizes, including an all-inclusive pass to the 2025 Missouri Bar Annual Meeting.

Editor’s note: Answers have been edited for style, clarity, and brevity.

Morry Cole | Commissioner William Gust | Steven Kretzer | Amy Rebecca Johnson | Hon. Lisa Page

Morry Cole

Morry Cole, a lawyer at Gray Ritter Graham handling complex litigation, discovered how to take his passion for flying to new heights by combining it with his practice of law.

What inspired you to start this hobby or activity?

One of my hobbies is flying airplanes, and I have been a licensed pilot since I was a teenager. Our family has spent time around airports and flown many different types of aircraft — from antiques to ultramodern planes — for three generations. I was inspired to become a pilot by my father who took me on my first flight when I was two weeks old.

Flying has provided me many benefits, both personally and professionally. Personally, flying has facilitated flexibility in travel and efficient use of time. As a result, I have made it home for hundreds of nights that would otherwise have been spent on the road.

Professionally, I have realized many efficiencies. Perhaps more importantly, flying has provided in-depth knowledge of weather, airports, air traffic control, aircraft, engines, metallurgy, avionics, and human factors that are involved in the aviation cases (and other cases) I routinely pursue in court.

How important is this activity to your well-being as a legal professional?

Flying helps me see the world in a different perspective. It provides an escape [and] is demanding of concentration. When you fly, you concentrate upon the tasks before you and take a break from the demands of the job and the cases in which you are embroiled. Flying [also] opens the world and brings people together. Aviation helps keep me close to many of my family members and friends who are also pilots … [and] keeps me up to date on technological advancements in aircraft and their component parts.

How has this activity benefited your legal practice and clients?

Being a pilot [has] … improved my legal practice, my client satisfaction, my results, and my personal satisfaction in practice. Flying has exposed me to many years of detailed scientific discussions. Root cause analysis, material science, metallurgy, and finite element analysis are routine areas of discussion in aviation. Once you become well versed in these topics, you realize that they have application in many types of cases. For example, our firm has conducted sophisticated metallurgical analysis on a wide variety of failed products, including aircraft parts, boilers, guns, outboard boat motors, and tractor parts. The education I have gained through aviation has had cross application in many different types of cases and will continue to do so in the future.

Have you experienced challenges in maintaining social connections or hobbies as a lawyer, and how have you addressed them?

Every lawyer faces the difficulties of time management. Aviation is one of the few ways I know of to “manufacture” time. If you can travel hundreds of miles per hour faster than driving, you will realize efficiencies. Utilizing that saved time to maintain family connections and social connections pays benefits every time.

Commissioner William Gust

Hon. William Gust, a probate commissioner for Probate Court of St. Louis County, lifts weights to strengthen not only his body, but also his mind so he can continue to help lawyers and clients in the courtroom.

What inspired you to start this hobby or activity?

A few years ago, I decided to begin lifting weights because I wanted to get stronger. Since 2022, I have lifted weights multiple times a week, most every week. I have even competed in four Strongman Competitions and won two.

How important is this activity to your well-being as a legal professional?

When I started strength training, I expected to feel physically stronger. What I didn’t realize is that it would make me feel mentally stronger. Picking extremely heavy things up before going into work makes you feel strong mentally. It also makes you more resilient to the stressors you encounter.

It has also given me goals to work toward outside of the office. With strength training, it is very clear when you are making progress as the weight on the bar goes up. Seeing progress as often as I have is reassuring.

How has this activity benefited your legal practice and your clients?

The focus necessary for my strength training has helped me increase my capacity for focus when I sit on the bench or write an opinion. If you are pulling a 400-plus pound deadlift, you cannot be thinking about work or other stressors in your life; all that matters is you and the bar. I find that this intense practice translates to the concentration and focus required to be a commissioner. Sitting on the bench and presiding over complicated trust cases requires an intense amount of focus.

Have you experienced challenges in maintaining social connections or hobbies as a lawyer, and how have you addressed them?

It can be difficult to maintain social connections and hobbies as a lawyer. I’ve found the key is that I plan it out in advance. On Sunday, if I tell myself I am going to the gym three times this week, that may or may not happen. Instead, I will schedule the dates and times that I will go to the gym. By scheduling the dates and times on my calendar, this makes me much more likely to keep the appointment.

I also always strength train before I go into work. It gives me a great feeling of accomplishment before I even get to the courthouse.

Steven Kretzer

Steven Kretzer, an assistant prosecuting attorney for the Camden County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, transfers his skills as an actor to the courtroom.

What inspired you to start this hobby or activity?

Since high school, I've been actively involved in the performance arts in music and theater … After a couple years in practice as a lawyer, I realized I was missing a big part of what got me where I was: acting.

I began auditioning for several local community theater companies and have performed in more than 40 productions. I have also appeared in commercials, public service campaigns, a television pilot, and as an extra in a feature length film. I most recently portrayed Vladimir Popov in the musical, “Anastasia” (shown in photo). In addition to the scripted shows I've been in, I also perform with a local improv group.

How important is this activity to your well-being as a legal professional?

Theater, in particular, provides a welcome respite to some of the vicarious trauma inflicted in some of the cases I work. As a prosecutor, I often see people at their worst and victims that have been through terrible experiences. Theater provides a distinct shelter from some of the storms this career has to offer.

How has this activity benefited your legal practice and your clients?

As a trial lawyer and prosecutor, my stage skills allow me to communicate to the juries I appear in front of in ways I would not, had I not [had] the experiences on stage. As a trial lawyer, you have to be quick on your feet in front of a judge or jury – much like you do in front of an audience, whether that be a scripted show or improvised.

[In the theater community,] we also all come from different levels of talent and experience. Holding a novice's lack of experience against them serves as a great detriment to team building and rapport. In the legal profession, we often encounter folks that have little to no experience with the justice system. The skill of meeting someone where they are is integral to good communication with folks in unfamiliar territory.

How do you prioritize this activity with your work as a lawyer?

It is so easy to turn the passion of the legal profession into an obsession. Figuring out ways to live our lives outside of the practice of law, in my opinion, is vital to not only an enjoyable and rewarding life, but will inevitably work its way into your practice. The stress of being a lawyer with so much riding on what we do day in and day out requires a release of some sort. Ideally, that release comes in the form of a hobby or activity that gives back to your community and gives you the sense of community and involvement along the way.

There are many weeks where being a prosecutor is not an 8 a.m.-5 p.m. proposition. Trial weeks, the weeks leading up to a trial, and … periods of being on call for middle-of-the-night search warrants or 24-hour hold charging decisions … can demand many late night and weekend hours.

Accordingly, it is important to pick projects that have the most potential not to interfere with the work. When it does, it's important to have a great team in your office that you can trust to help cover the things you need to miss.

Amy Rebecca Johnson

Amy Rebecca Johnson, a family law lawyer at Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C., uses yoga to help strengthen her physical and mental health so she can show up for her clients daily.

What inspired you to start this hobby or activity?

I have been practicing yoga since junior year of high school. It's changed throughout the years but ultimately, yoga has become more than just a physical practice for me. While the movement practice remains incredibly important, other aspects of yoga also play a major part in my well-being.

How important is this activity to your well-being as a legal professional?

Yoga reduces my stress, increases my focus, has given me tools to remain calm, but most importantly, it assists me in regulating my nervous system, which is key for overall health both short and long term.

How has this activity benefited your legal practice and your clients?

If we are not taking care of our own well-being, we are not able to adequately and completely represent our clients. This opens the door to a lot of day-to-day issues but can also lead to concerns with malpractice.

Since yoga gives me the space to allow me to step away from the stress that a family law practice can bring, I am able to approach cases with a different sense of calm. This transfers into how I treat and represent my clients.

How do you prioritize this activity with your work as a lawyer?

I make sure that I schedule it into my day, just like I would a court appearance or a meeting with a client. For me, spending time in the morning, before going to the office, is the best time for me to make sure that I fit my movement practice into my day.

We all know that lawyering is not an 8-to-5 or 40-hours-a-week job. Taking a step back and determining what is important for me in ensuring that my non-work time is filled with things that are important and meaningful is a part of a regular check-in with myself.

Hon. Lisa Page

Hon. Lisa Page, a judge for the Missouri Court of Appeals-Eastern District, uses her passion for cooking to help break down cases, while also creating weekly mealtime memories with her family.

What inspired you to start this hobby or activity?

I enjoy creating new recipes that are healthy but taste like they are not. Each weekend, you will find my husband Eddie and I making Sunday dinner with our family. We are up to 12 people in our family and usually have a couple of extra friends join our fun.

I also meal prep at least one weekday dinner for us and for our kids to take home with them. It is a labor of love, and it makes my day when they call and tell me how much they enjoy those dinners during the week.

How has this activity benefited your legal practice and your clients?

The Page family joke is the “more stress mom is under, the better we eat,” because cooking is such a source of stress relief for me. During the last 20 years, as a trial judge and now at the Court of Appeals, many a decision has ruminated in the back of my mind as I prepared food. This process frequently helps me break a case of writer’s block or figure out that perfect word or phrase that is eluding me.

How do you prioritize this activity with your work as a judge?

I spend a working breakfast or lunch on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday planning the next week. It usually takes 15-30 minutes, but I function better when I know how my work days will fit with a concurrent exercise and meal plan.

Volunteers with lived experience have prioritized well-being in their own lives and actively offer their assistance to others, helping ensure a healthy legal community. The volunteer can provide a safe, confidential space to discuss challenges and strategies for working through them.

Remember, your well-being can impact your ability to serve your clients and communities. Having a strong social network provides support, reduces isolation, and fosters a sense of belonging in the legal community.

To connect with a peer volunteer at no cost, call MOLAP at 1-800-688-7859. To volunteer as a peer volunteer, please complete this form and check “Peer Support” under “Volunteer Interests.”

Learn more about social well-being — as well as physical, spiritual, career & intellectual, and emotional well-being — during Well-Being Week in Law, May 5-9. The well-being activities and programs offered during WWIL were developed to protect the integrity and competency of the legal profession and help lawyers even better serve their clients and communities.

As part of WWIL, take 10 minutes to journal in self-reflection. Studies have found that self-reflection helps ground our daily work in a deeper sense of purpose. From this deeper sense of purpose will hopefully help lawyers develop a greater or renewed commitment to effectively advocate for clients. 

Here are some journaling prompts lawyers can use to help them get started:

• What moments in my legal journey am I most grateful for, even if they were challenging at the time?
• Reflect on how certain hardships, mentors, or opportunities helped shape your growth as a legal professional.
• Who in my professional life has contributed to my development or success, and how can I show appreciation for their support?
• Think of colleagues, clients, professors, or even opposing counsel who made an impact. What has made their legacy impactful?
• In what ways has my work in the legal profession allowed me to serve others, and how does that align with my personal values?
• How has the legal profession enriched my understanding of people, society, or justice? What do I appreciate most about that insight?

If you feel inclined, share your response on social media and tag The Missouri Bar (@mobarnews) and use #MOLawyersLivingWell, #MOLawyersWellBeing, and #WellBeingWeekInLaw.

As part of its year-long service project, The Missouri Bar 2024-2025 Leadership Academy class, in collaboration with the Standing Committee on Well-Being in the Profession, is making Well-Being Week in Law a concerted effort to empower lawyers to most effectively advocate for their clients and to strengthen the profession. Well-Being Week in Law is a national initiative from the Institute for Well-Being in Law that is helping lawyers not just survive, but thrive. Because when lawyers are at their best, they can even better serve their clients and communities.

Visit MoBar.org/WWIL2025 to view more well-being activities related to physical, spiritual, career and intellectual, social, and emotional well-being. Remember to track your participation during WWIL for the chance to win prizes, including an all-inclusive pass to the 2025 Missouri Bar Annual Meeting.

Learn about working with generational differences to even better serve clients during “The lawyer and the law: Through the generations,” a no-cost virtual CLE from noon-1 p.m. on May 7.

Register here: https://mobarcle.mobar.org/item/2025-lawyer-law-generations-704148?eventTimeId=7253269

This CLE is offered in conjunction with Well-Being Week in Law, May 5-9. Well-Being Week in Law is a national initiative from the Institute for Well-Being in Law that is helping lawyers not just survive, but thrive. 

The CLE will address:

– ageism in the workplace, 
– differing perspectives on technology, and 
– how different generations of attorneys view work-life balance. 

Attendees will learn how multiple generations working together can bring together varying levels of experience, skill, and perspectives to provide even better legal representation to clients.

Speakers for this webinar include:

– Belinda J. Dantley, St. Louis University School of Law, St. Louis;  
– Jessie L. Basler, Administrative Hearings Unit - Division of Legal Services, St. Louis; and  
– Timothy R. Cisar, The Cisar Law Firm, PC, Lake Ozark. 

Panel moderators/speakers include:

– Darrell A. Smith, U.S. District Court, Kansas City;  
– Brittany N. Chapman, Missouri Department of Social Services, St. Louis; and 
– Sean P. Connelly, Missouri State Public Defender, St. Louis. 

Participants will earn 1.1 MCLE, 1.1 Ethics, 1.1 Elimination of Bias, and 1.0 Kansas LPM.

The panel is sponsored by The Missouri Bar 2024-2025 Leadership Academy class and the Standing Committee on Well-being in the Profession.

The well-being activities and programs offered during Well-Being Week in Law were developed to protect the integrity and competency of the legal profession and help lawyers even better serve their clients and communities. Learn more about other planned activities scheduled for Well-Being Week in Law at MoBar.org/WWIL2025.

Participants’ insights will contribute to research that can help shape future initiatives and best practices in the legal profession in Missouri.

The University of Utah School of Medicine created the survey on behalf of The Missouri Bar. The survey was first sent to a randomly selected group of Missouri lawyers and is now open to all who wish to participate.

Lawyers who were part of the original randomly selected sample can still take the survey.

The study is intended to identify well-being measures relevant to Missouri legal professionals with the aim of developing meaningful, evidence-based approaches to support lawyers' mental and physical well-being and help them even better serve their clients and communities.

The Missouri Bar’s Standing Committee on Well-being in the Profession commissioned the survey in order to support its goals of increasing awareness, improving education and policies, and reducing stigma related to lawyer substance use and mental health.

Find the survey here: https://redcap.link/MObar_wellbeing.

Lawyers may have clients who are in emotional pain or may encounter colleagues who struggle with depression, substance use, and/or suicidal ideation – all of which have elevated rates in the legal profession. Having strategies for working with others in a crisis can save lives.

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer. With simple, practical, and proven steps, QPR training is the most widely taught suicide prevention gatekeeper training in the world.

The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program is offering QPR training sessions at no cost. Registration is open for three upcoming virtual QPR training sessions in May, June, and July. The training dates for August-November will be posted after June 25. The training is approved for up to 1.6 hours of MCLE credit, including ethics. 

Suicide is a reality in the legal profession. Statistics on the suicide rate of lawyers in the United States are cause for concern. The Dave Nee Foundation in New York, a think tank for the study of lawyer depression, ranks American lawyers fifth occupationally in the incidence of suicide.¹ 

“QPR Gatekeeper Training presents practical training in a brief period on a suicide prevention and is designed to help individuals recognize the warning signs of suicide and take appropriate action to help someone in crisis,” said MOLAP Director Stacy Parmer.

Participants will become more comfortable and confident in broaching the sensitive subject of suicide, receive support resources, and practice and discuss skills learned.

Each session is two hours long and limited to 25 participants. The session will conclude with recent research regarding lawyer and judicial well-being. Attendees will receive access to online support materials to reinforce the training, complete a pre- and post-test about their confidence in discussing the topic of suicide, and can print a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

Register 
To register, first click on your preferred time and date.

May 28, noon-2 p.m.    
https://mobar-org.zoom.us/j/86937121180?pwd=9VIXSZp18VoUn9J86dNfl7VuBJatX1.1

June 25, noon-2 p.m.   
https://mobar-org.zoom.us/j/86397006096?pwd=oKauhILE9j1xbLTITJWKKiKTOn66B5.1

July 16, noon-2 p.m.  
https://mobar-org.zoom.us/j/84508011500?pwd=jtA7ZtbnpYSrye4nuK6Fs8VCK0UbMb.1

Registration for the April 30 training is now closed.

Parmer will email the participants the pre-test several days before the training and register participants through the QPR system after they complete the course. This will give participants access to the post-test, follow-up support materials, and allow them to provide instructor feedback to improve the quality of the training. 

1 Michael Steven Webb, Dissenting from Death: Preventing Lawyer Suicide, A.B.A. (2021) https://www.americanbar.org/groups/senior_lawyers/resources/voice-of-experience/2010-2022/dissenting-death-preventing-lawyer-suicide/#:~:text=Statistics%20on%20the%20suicide%20rate,in%20the%20incidence%20of%20suicide.

The awards include the:

– James T. Britt Memorial Award, presented to an individual who over the years has advanced the cause of relief and recovery for impaired lawyers or made pioneering contributions to the overall well-being of lawyers in Missouri. 

– Dorothy Kaiser Award, presented in recognition in the field of chemical dependency, recovery, and continuing compassionate care for lawyers or made pioneering contributions to the overall well-being of lawyers in Missouri. 

– Warren Welliver Award, presented to an individual who exemplified compassion and concern for lawyers in Missouri during the past year.

Submit your nominations here: https://mobar.wufoo.com/forms/2025-molap-award-nominations/

MOLAP helps individuals overcome concerns such as substance use, depression, stress, and burnout through a variety of no-cost services. MOLAP provides a professional, confidential counseling program for members of The Missouri Bar, immediate family members who reside with them, and law students.

Call 1-800-688-7859 or visit MoBar.org/MOLAP for more information.

For Alcohol Awareness Month, the Missouri Lawyers' Assistance Program is offering no-cost, confidential alcohol use screenings throughout the month of April. To schedule a screening appointment, call 1-800-688-7859. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength and hope. Learn more at MoBar.org/MOLAP.

Alcohol awareness is self-awareness.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. How appropriate to ring in the new season with a new mindset. Alcohol awareness is exactly as it sounds: being consciously aware of drinking habits. It encourages individuals to be mindful of their alcohol consumption, even if they do not regularly imbibe.

Alcohol use lies on a spectrum, with total abstinence on one end and dangerous and excessive drinking on the other. On that continuum, there is also binge drinking and an emerging trend of high-intensity drinking.

Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% or more. This typically happens if a woman has four or more drinks or if a man has five or more drinks within approximately two hours.¹ 

High-intensity drinking is consuming alcohol at levels that are two or more times the gender-specific binge drinking thresholds listed above.

The American Bar Association conducted a study in collaboration with the Betty Ford Foundation which found that 20% of lawyers and legal professionals showed signs of problematic drinking, compared to just 11.8% of the total workforce with the same level of educational attainment.²

The high stress demands of the legal profession foster a culture that is conducive to social drinking, often beginning in law school.

Being mindful and in the present moment can help you gain a better understanding of what your personal relationship with alcohol looks like. How do your drinking habits impact your work, school, home, or social life? Self-reflection helps us to build strategies to cope with drinking urges.

As we become more self-aware of our triggers for imbibing, we can begin to build more mindful drinking practices. Listed below are questions to assess your drinking habits:

1.    When am I most likely to pick up a drink?

2.    When I do drink, am I drinking alone or socially?

3.    How is drinking getting in the way of my goals?

4.    Is drinking impacting my relationships?

5.    Do I drink to avoid an uncomfortable emotion, thought, or situation?

6.    Do I feel the need to drink when I am not living up to perceived expectations or perfectionistic tendencies?

7.    Am I drinking to self-medicate underlying symptoms of stress, anxiety, or depression?

8.    What are common triggers that cause me to want to drink?

As lawyers become more self-aware of triggers and habits for imbibing, they can begin to build more mindful drinking practices and become alcohol aware – impacting how they live and practice law.

1 What Colleges Need to Know Now: An Update on College Drinking Research, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 2 (2007).

2 Patrick Krill, et. al, The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys, 10 J. OF ADDICTION MED. 46 (2016).

The University of Utah School of Medicine, on behalf of The Missouri Bar, will send a survey this Thursday, April 10, to a randomly selected group of lawyers in the state.

The confidential survey will be emailed to the selected lawyers and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Questions will center around well-being in the profession.

The survey will be open for a period of two weeks. Participation is voluntary, and all responses will remain completely confidential.

The Missouri Bar’s Standing Committee on Well-being in the Profession has commissioned the survey in order to support its goals of increasing awareness, improving education and policies, and reducing stigma related to lawyer substance use and mental health.

The study is intended to identify well-being measures relevant to legal professionals with the aim of developing meaningful, evidence-based approaches to support lawyers' mental and physical well-being and help them even better serve their clients and communities. Participants’ insights will contribute to research that can help shape future initiatives and best practices.

Shelly Dreyer is 2024-2025 Missouri Bar president.

Over my career, I’ve witnessed firsthand the toll that practicing law takes on our colleagues’ mental well-being – burnout, anxiety, depression, and substance use concerns. It’s a significant challenge facing our profession. If you’ve read my previous “President’s page” columns in the Journal or heard me speak, you know I frequently address lawyer well-being, because we can’t take care of our clients if we don’t take care of ourselves.

It is time we have an honest conversation about why we must eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health in our profession. The statistics are sobering. Lawyers experience depression, anxiety, and substance issues at rates far higher than the general population. Among lawyers, 28% have experienced symptoms of depression, 19% suffer with anxiety, and 23% suffer with stress. Lawyers also have a higher rate of problematic drinking than any other professionals.¹ The American Bar Association National Task Force for Lawyer Well-Being found that 21-36% of lawyers qualify as problem drinkers and 11% have considered death by suicide.²

It saddens me to see friends and colleagues avoid seeking help due to stigma or fear of their law licenses being affected. Many of the traits that make us effective lawyers – perfectionism, attention to detail, and the ability to anticipate worst-case scenarios – can also make us more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, burnout, or substance misuse. 

Unfortunately, the mental toughness required to be a lawyer often prevents lawyers from prioritizing their mental and emotional health and stops them from seeking help. There’s a persistent misconception that seeking help is a sign of weakness, that it could jeopardize client relationships, or that it might raise concerns with their law license or with the Missouri Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel. These fears can create a dangerous cycle where lawyers hide their struggles until they reach a crisis point. 

As lawyers, we have the opportunity and responsibility to change this narrative. We must normalize conversations about mental health within our firms and legal organizations. When lawyers, especially senior lawyers, openly discuss the importance of a healthy mental state and share their own experiences, it sends a powerful message that seeking help is not just acceptable but encouraged. We must approach mental health concerns with the same openness and seriousness as any other medical condition. 

Law firms can play a crucial role by implementing policies that prioritize mental health. This includes creating reasonable billable hour expectations, encouraging vacation time, and providing robust health insurance that covers mental health treatment. More importantly, firms need to foster an environment where lawyers feel safe discussing their mental health needs without fear of professional consequences. 

For individual lawyers, there are several meaningful steps we can take. Start by checking in on colleagues, especially those who seem to be struggling. Learn to recognize the signs of mental health challenges in yourself and others. Utilize the no-cost, confidential resources available through the bar’s Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program. And perhaps most importantly, share your own experiences when you feel comfortable doing so.

Every time a lawyer speaks openly about mental health, it helps chip away at the stigma that keeps others from seeking help. 

The Missouri Bar has long acknowledged the importance of well-being services for lawyers to ensure they can ethically and competently serve their clients. Members of The Missouri Bar, their families, and law students can receive no-cost, confidential counseling from MOLAP. In addition, MOLAP offers crisis intervention, education and prevention, suicide prevention training, and substance use support including peer-to-peer referrals. All interactions with MOLAP are with a licensed clinician and are completely confidential. If a lawyer does not feel comfortable receiving counseling from a MOLAP clinician for any reason, MOLAP will refer them to a contract provider for 12 no-cost counseling sessions over 12 months. 

Call 1-800-688-7859 or visit MoBar.org/MOLAP to connect with MOLAP. Remember, reaching out for help is a sign of strength and hope. 

Building on these efforts, The Missouri Bar has implemented several initiatives to further support lawyer well-being. In September 2022, The Missouri Bar Board of Governors passed a resolution creating the Standing Committee on Well-Being in the Profession, which works hard to reduce the stigma around well-being discussions and seeking help.

One of the new well-being projects I’m excited about is a statewide survey of Missouri Bar members to gather data and better serve lawyers. The Missouri Bar has contracted with the University of Utah and The Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health to conduct this study, which will help The Missouri Bar identify specific issues Missouri lawyers face, enabling further efforts to address them. 

Additionally, the 2024-25 Leadership Academy³ class is working on a service project focused on raising awareness and encouraging participation in the Well-Being Week in Law, May 5-9. The class is planning CLE programs, podcast episodes, videos, and more for the week. Look on page 59 for a gratitude gram from the class as part of its efforts to inspire well-being in the legal profession. 

Remember, taking care of your mental health doesn’t make you a less capable lawyer – it makes you a better one. By breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health, we’re not just helping individual lawyers; we’re strengthening the entire legal profession. 

Let’s make Missouri a leader in lawyer well-being by creating a culture where seeking mental health support is viewed as a sign of professional responsibility rather than weakness. Our colleagues’ lives and careers may depend on it. 

The time for change is now, and it begins with each of us being willing to speak up, reach out, and stand together in support of mental health awareness in the legal profession.

Endnotes 

1 Patrick Krill, et. al, The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys, 10 J. OF ADDICTION MED. 46 (2016). 

2 If you are in an emergency situation, please call 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. 

3 The Missouri Bar Leadership Academy is a program designed to recruit, train, and retain Missouri lawyers who have been admitted for 10 years or less for leadership positions within The Missouri Bar. The academy seeks diversity in gender, race, area of practice, and region within the state. Leadership Academy participants engage in various activities, including attending The Missouri Bar Annual Meeting, Board of Governors meetings, committee meetings, and workshops specifically designed for leadership development. They also work on a public service project throughout the year and commit to serving The Missouri Bar in an active capacity for two years after completing the program.

Gratitude is a brain-changer.

Science shows that gratitude isn’t just a feel-good concept; it’s backed by research. When people practice gratitude, their brains release dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters responsible for emotions.¹ 

“This dopamine release enhances feelings of joy and contentment and encourages repeated expressions of gratitude, creating a positive feedback loop where the more gratitude we express, the more our brain seeks out situations and behaviors that elicit these rewarding feelings.”²

Regularly practicing gratitude can have lasting effects by creating a consistent appreciative outlook on life, which helps improve psychological conditions like stress, anxiety, and depression by turning one’s thoughts toward positive things. 

Shelly Dreyer, 2024-25 Missouri Bar president, recently wrote a Journal column describing imposter syndrome³ as a common struggle in the legal profession. Gratitude serves as a powerful antidote to imposter syndrome by helping lawyers foster a positive self-image and nurture resilience. By acknowledging the positives in life, you shift your focus from what’s wrong with your life to what’s right. 

For example, what if, in those moments of self-doubt, you shift your focus from “Am I a good enough lawyer?” to “How have I made a difference?” This shift in perspective is where embracing gratitude can be beneficial to silence your inner critic and boost self-confidence as a practitioner, allowing you to even better serve your clients and communities. No matter how difficult things may become, through gratitude, you can build a reserve that will protect against the stress, self-doubt, and mental health challenges associated with the pressures of practicing law. 

Gratitude can also cultivate deeper connections both professionally and personally. When you express gratitude towards others, you show that you recognize and value their contributions and support. This can help nurture positive working relationships by establishing respect, trust, and motivation between colleagues, clients, judges, and opposing counsel. 

The theme for this year’s Well-Being Week in Law, May 5-9, is “The Social Rx: Boosting Well-Being with Connection.” Connections can improve mental well-being but are often overlooked in the hectic pace of the legal profession. Remember to set aside time to foster these connections through gratitude. 

Begin changing your brain by regularly reflecting on and practicing gratitude. What are you grateful for in your legal career? Is it a mentor who believed in your skills? A recent win that reaffirmed your talents? Can you recall a time when expressing gratitude positively impacted your day? What was it like when a client or colleague expressed gratitude towards you? 

In this issue of the Journal, you will find a gratitude gram created by The Missouri Bar Leadership Academy you can use to share your appreciation and gratitude with a client, colleague, or opposing counsel.⁴ In expressing your gratitude towards others, you may find a renewed sense of purpose and motivation, leading to improved job performance and a more positive outlook on your work with clients and other lawyers. 

Remember, the Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program is also here to help lawyers through many different mental health concerns. You can talk with a licensed counselor through MOLAP at no cost, and all services are strictly confidential. Call 1-800-688-7859 to connect with MOLAP.

By embracing the simple yet profound practice of gratitude, lawyers can foster not only a more fulfilling personal and professional life, but also a more resilient and compassionate legal community.

Endnotes 

1 Can Gratitude Improve Quality of Life?, PRINCETON HEALTH, www.princetonhcs. org/about-princeton-health/news-and-information/news/can-gratitude-increase-quality-of-life (Nov. 22, 2022). 

2 Mark Travers, A Psychologist Explains The Neuroscience Of Your ‘Gratitude Practice’, FORBES, www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/05/22/a-psychologist-explains-how-to-hack-your-brains-gratitude-circuit/ (May 22, 2024). 

3 Shelly Dreyer, President’s page: ‘I often felt like an imposter’ – understanding and overcoming self-doubt as lawyers, 81 J. BAR 5 (2025). 

4 The 2024-25 Leadership Academy class focusing on raising awareness and increasing participation in Well-Being Week in Law.

MOLAP does not share individuals’ information with anyone in the legal profession – including other Missouri Bar employees, the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, employers, or coworkers. Read more about MOLAP’s confidentiality policies here.

Learn more about the rare occasions when information is shared, along with answers to other frequently asked questions, below.

 Frequently asked questions:

Q. If I contact MOLAP, will anything I talk about be disclosed to OCDC?

A. No.

Q. What is the relation between MOLAP and OCDC?

A. MOLAP is an entirely separate program from the state’s discipline office, and they have entirely different functions. MOLAP does not communicate information to OCDC, or any other departments within the Supreme Court of Missouri or The Missouri Bar.

No other departments have access to MOLAP files or communications. MOLAP clinicians, and The Missouri Bar’s chief technology officer (who has limited access), are the only ones with access to files.

Discipline is reactive; it responds to ethical breaches. MOLAP is preventive. MOLAP seeks to provide assistance for personal problems a lawyer may have that, if not addressed, could lead to the lawyer becoming involved in the discipline process. All communications with the MOLAP are confidential and protected by the Missouri Licensed Professional Counselors Code of Ethics.

Q. What happens if I work with MOLAP, but later something comes up and I become involved in the discipline process? Will MOLAP disclose anything in that situation?

A. No. If you later become involved in the discipline process, you may choose to disclose your MOLAP participation, or you may choose to enter into a MOLAP deferral. In a MOLAP deferral, an individual asks MOLAP to report compliance with clinical recommendations to the grievance committee, but MOLAP will not disclose it unless you ask us to do so in writing.

Q. If I call MOLAP to make a referral about a colleague (friend, family member, coworker) who is a lawyer, what will MOLAP do?

A. It depends on the situation, and one of our clinical staff will talk with you to get as much detail as possible in order to better understand the situation and how we might be of assistance.

Often, but not always, we ask two volunteers who have been through something similar to reach out to the distressed lawyer. We have found most lawyers are willing to take the meeting with our volunteers, even if they are not willing to accept help at that moment in time. It plants a seed, and many of our clients report that they called the volunteers back some months later when they were willing to get assistance.

Q. If I call MOLAP to make a referral about a colleague, will MOLAP tell the person that I was the one who referred them?

A. No. MOLAP leaves that decision to the discretion of the caller, so we will not disclose your involvement without your permission. We get calls/referrals from colleagues, judges, disciplinary counsel, certified grievance committees, admissions committees, defense counsel, spouses, children, law school administrators and professors, and the occasional client.

We generally require corroborating information on a new client before doing anything. If we do not obtain corroboration, we do not move forward to intervene — we open a confidential file and wait. Where we have corroboration, we often will set up and facilitate an intervention. Sometimes we provide information to the caller on how to approach the troubled person, and that results in a call from a new client.

Q. If I call MOLAP to make a referral about a colleague, can that person be reported to OCDC?

A. MOLAP will not disclose or report any information to OCDC without the written consent of the person involved.

Q. Can reaching out to MOLAP negatively impact my license or my career?

A. Absolutely not. The opposite is actually true. NOT reaching out for help when it’s needed is more likely to have a negative impact on your license or career.

Q. Can MOLAP help me with non-work issues?

A. MOLAP helps with a wide range of issues. NO issue is too big or small for MOLAP assistance.

MOLAP helps individuals overcome personal concerns such as substance use, depression, stress, and burnout through a variety of no-cost services. MOLAP provides a professional, confidential counseling program for members of The Missouri Bar, immediate family members who reside with them, and law students. 

Services include: 

— Counseling. All Missouri Bar members have access to services by calling 1-800-688-7859. MOLAP also makes referrals to professional resources as indicated.

— Crisis intervention. MOLAP coordinates crisis intervention services for individuals and law firms.

— Education and prevention. MOLAP offers educational programs and articles on topics such as substance use, stress, depression, and quality of life.

— Substance use support. Get connected immediately to a clinically trained substance use clinician, quick access to peer volunteers recovering from substance use, and individualized recovery plans.  

Visit MoBar.org/MOLAP for more information.

We want to hear your session ideas for the 30th annual 2025 Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Conference!

This year's virtual conference will focus on well-being in the legal profession.

If you would like to be considered for a presentation, please submit your proposal at https://mobar.wufoo.com/forms/2025-molap-conference-program-proposals by June 30 with the following information:

• presentation title;
• your name, title, address, and contact information;
• a brief synopsis of the presentation, 100 words or less;
• a one paragraph presenter bio;
• a headshot.

Selected speakers will receive complimentary registration. More information will be provided after sessions have been selected.

The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program recognizes this and takes confidentiality seriously.

MOLAP does not share individuals’ information with anyone in the legal profession – including other Missouri Bar employees, OCDC, employers, or coworkers.

There are limited situations where MOLAP is required to share your health information.

Only with your authorization, your information may be shared:

• By those involved in your care for the purpose of providing, coordinating, or managing your health care treatment and related services. This includes consultation with other treatment team members.

Without your authorization, MOLAP may share information:

• with a state or local agency authorized by law to receive reports of child or elder abuse or neglect or suspicion thereof;
• if necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public; if information is disclosed to prevent or lessen a serious threat it will be disclosed to a person or persons reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat, including the target of the threat;
• to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for the purpose of investigating or determining its compliance with the privacy rule;
• to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations, and inspections;
• to support our business activities including, but not limited to, quality assessment activities, employee review activities, licensing, and conducting or arranging for other business activities; For example, MOLAP may share information with third parties that perform various business activities (e.g., contract services) provided we have a written contract with the business that requires it to safeguard privacy.

For MOLAP’s full notice of privacy practices document, click here.