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ABA Journal Features Sharon Nelson’s ABA TECHSHOW Seminar on Ethics and Well-Being

March 4, 2020

Sharon Nelson and Jennifer Gerstenzang’s ABA TECHSHOW session titled “ The Intersection of Ethics and Well-Being” was featured by Amanda Robert in her article titled “Ethical dilemmas emerge when attorneys keep mental health struggles private” in the ABA Journal’s coverage of the 2020 ABA TECHSHOW on February 28th.

Excerpt: Sidley Austin should have seen the signals that something was not right with 42-year-old partner Gabe MacConaill, who died by suicide in 2018, Sharon Nelson argued during a Friday panel at ABA Techshow called “The Intersection of Ethics and Well-Being.”

MacConaill had stopped responding to emails and serving his clients, actions that should have raised concerns, said Nelson, the president of technology and cybersecurity firm Sensei Enterprises, Inc. in Fairfax, Virginia. After MacConaill died, a firm spokesperson said the partner should have come forward with his struggles, Nelson added.

Sidley Austin did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

“This guy couldn’t raise his hand,” Nelson said. “There are a lot of people in that position who don’t feel safe asking for help. This is something that we think needs to change.”

Jennifer Gerstenzang, a deputy public defender in the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office, who joined Nelson on the panel, pointed out that 74% of legal professionals believe their mental well-being is worse because of their chosen career.

She cited ALM’s recent Mental Health and Substance Abuse Survey, which also found that 33% of respondents increased drug or alcohol use as a result of their work, and about 44% admitted to dealing with stress with alcohol. Nearly 18% also said they have contemplated suicide, a figure that is nearly two times the lifetime rate the general population considers suicide.

Gerstenzang contended that even though attorneys are increasingly reporting their struggles, they are still not seeking help. The ALM study showed only about 7% sought treatment, and of those, only about 22% went through a program designed for legal professionals.

Read the entire article here.