Working Group on Attorney Mental Health

The evolution of legal, clinical and societal perspectives towards people with mental disabilities has led many to question the legality, efficacy and morality of screening Bar applicants for mental disability. The Working Group of Attorney Mental Health recognizes the importance of focusing on a bar candidate’s behavior and conduct to evaluate fitness to practice law and expects that to continue to be the focus of determining an applicant’s fitness to practice law. The Working Group is comprised of representatives from the Young Lawyers Section, the Committee on Disability Rights, the Lawyer Assistance Committee, and the Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar.

New York State Bar Association Creates Blue-Ribbon Wellness Task Force, NYSBA News Release, June 10, 2019

Final Report of the Working Group on Attorney Mental Health
, Approved, November 2, 2019

New York State Bar Association Succeeds in Getting Mental Health Question Removed from NY Bar Application, NYSBA News Release,
February 26, 2020

Law School Grads in NY Won’t Face Mental Health Inquiry, February 26, 2020


WORKING GROUP IN THE NEWS

Momentum Builds for Allowing NY Bar Applicants to Keep Mental Health History Secret, New York Law Journal, June 10, 2019

N.Y. Bar Association to Study Mental Health Application Question, Bloomberg Law, June 11, 2019

NY Bar to Reassess Applicant Mental Health Questionnaire, Law360, June 11, 2019

California Bans Inquiries on Would-be Lawyers’ Mental Health, Bloomberg Law, July 31, 2019

Hank Greenberg: Lawyers and Depression, WAMC, October 2, 2019

Federal Judge in NY Focuses on Profession's Mental Health Problem in 'Trial-by-Combat' Case, New York Law Journal, October 25, 2019

NY State Bar Set to Eye Removal of Mental Health Question for Attorney Applicants, New York Law Journal, October 31, 2019

N.Y. Bar Association Calls for Mental Health Question Ban, Bloomberg Law, November 2, 2019

Legislation Introduced to Strike Question About Mental Health History for Attorney Applicants in NY, New York Law Journal
, November 4, 2019

State Bar Wants to Stop Mental Health Questions, Daily Record. November 4, 2019

Lawyers Seek Removal of MH Question from Bar Applications, Mental Health Weekly, November 11, 2019

NY’s Law School Deans Ask Court Officials to Remove Mental Health Question for Attorney Applicants, New York Law Journal, December 10, 2019

A new look at character and fitness: Bar leaders, lawyers, other urge elimination of mental health questions, ABA Bar Leader, January 11, 2020


MEMBERS:

Alyssa M. Barreiro, Esq.
Committee on Disability Rights

M. Elizabeth (Libby) Coreno, Esq.
Law Practice Management Committee,Subcommittee on Attorney Wellness

Dena M. DeFazio, Esq.
Young Lawyers Section

Simeon Goldman, Esq.
Committee on Disability Rights

Suzanne S. Hassani
J.D. Candidate, Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University

Laura Jurewicz
J.D. Candidate, Albany Law School

Hon. Barry Kamins
Presidential Appointment

Daniella E. Keller, Esq.
Lawyer Assistance Committee

Anne Louise LaBarbera
Young Lawyers Section

David R. Marshall, Esq.
Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar

Marta Galan Ricardo, Esq.
Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar

Melinda R. Saran, Esq.
Committee on Disability Rights

Thomas E. Schimmerling, Esq.
Lawyer Assistance Committee

Lauren E. Sharkey, Esq.
Young Lawyers Section

Sheila Shea, Esq.
Committee on Disability Rights

Terrence Lee Tarver, Esq.
Young Lawyers Section

Eileen C. Travis
NYC Lawyer Assistance Program 

Brandon L. Wolff, Esq.
Young Lawyers Section

Stacey A. Whiteley
Liaison to Lawyer Assistance Committee and Committee on Disability Rights 

Ernesto Guerrero
Liaison to Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar

Amy Jasiewicz
Liaison to Young Lawyers Section

Linda M. McMahon
Lawyer Assistance Program Assistant