Ice Miller LLP signed the American Bar Association’s Well-Being Pledge in recognition of the significant challenges substance use and mental health problems present in the legal profession. The pledge acknowledges that more can and should be done to improve the health and well-being of lawyers.

The ABA Well-Being Pledge & Campaign, organized by the ABA Working Group to Advance Well-Being in the Legal Profession, is designed to support lawyer well-being and address the profession’s troubling rates of alcohol and other substance-use disorders, as well as mental health issues. Based on a framework developed by working group member Patrick Krill, the campaign’s goals are to raise awareness, facilitate a reduction in the incidence of problematic substance-use and mental health distress and improve lawyer well-being. From education to policies to culture, the seven-point pledge identified in the Campaign reflects the core areas on which legal employers should focus and the concrete steps they should take as they seek to achieve those goals.

Pledging support for this innovative campaign, Ice Miller is working to adopt and prioritize the seven-point pledge framework for building a better future. As part of the pledge, Ice Miller is launching new internal resources, education opportunities and anonymous health screening tools in conjunction with our existing wellness program.

The ABA Working Group to Advance Well-Being in the Legal Profession was created to examine and make recommendations regarding the current state of attorney mental health and substance use issues with an emphasis on helping legal employers support healthy work environments. The Working Group was formed in September 2017 at the request of ABA Immediate Past-President Hilarie Bass and continues to operate under ABA President Bob Carlson’s leadership.

This publication is intended for general information purposes only and does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. The reader should consult with legal counsel to determine how laws or decisions discussed herein apply to the reader’s specific circumstances.