Frequently Asked Questions: Law Students

LCL understands the stresses unique to law school and the legal profession, and how those stresses can lead to serious personal, academic, and professional problems. We have 25 years of experience dealing with a range of issues, including:
• Stress and Burnout
• Classroom/Exam Performance Anxiety
• Depression
• Worries about the Bar Exam and Bar Application Disclosure
• Career Concerns
• Balancing School and Family
• Gambling
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse

NO. There currently is no requirement to report LCL assistance on your Massachusetts bar application, and LCL will not report it.

NO. Even if you choose to let the BBE know that you have come to LCL, the Board supports the work of LCL and recognizes that those who seek help are taking responsible action to address a problem.

NO. As previously stated, no one has access to the identity of those seeking LCL services. LCL only gives out client information if there is a signed “Consent to Disclosure” form on file giving permission to disclose to a specific individual. (The rare exceptions to confidentiality, such as when there is a specific threat of imminent physical harm to self or others, would generally involve a duty to warn potential victims, notify police, or arrange hospitalization — not to disclose to the BBO, unless our client’s statements indicated that a BBO employee was in danger of bodily harm.)

If you call seeking general information, or to schedule/reschedule an appointment, whoever answers can assist you. If you are raising a clinical question, you will be transferred to a staff clinician. Often, we will then suggest an in-person appointment, which allows us to provide the best assessment. In most cases, whoever speaks with you will fill out a brief form summarizing the call; the form is kept in a locked file.

Most people do, so that we can contact them. We keep this information to ourselves (as we are legally and ethically required), but if it makes you more comfortable you may remain anonymous. In fact, a few people each year also remain anonymous when they come in for a visit. (We still keep records in such cases, but without the name.)

Much like other clinical settings, you’ll sit briefly in a waiting room and fill out a one-page form, in addition to reading our information sheet about privacy/confidentiality, etc. Usually, you’ll be the only one in the waiting room; if you do see someone else, it will be another attorney, law student, or judge coming for the same purpose. Then you’ll meet with the clinician, usually for about an hour, but sometimes longer depending on your schedule and his/hers, and on how much area you’re both hoping to cover in one session.

There is no fee for LCL’s clinical services – the agency is funded by a small portion of every Massachusetts lawyer’s registration fees. Because our counseling and group services are free of charge, LCL does not file anything with your health insurance (although we may take insurance information to assist with further referrals).

Perhaps 90% of our clients are seen here from one to three times. For those in need of additional services, we make further referrals. We do not provide ongoing individual therapy/counseling – we provide only evaluations, referrals, and discussion or support groups.

When the problem is of a clinical nature, we usually refer to mental health clinicians (including psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists). We also refer to other kinds of coaches and counselors (such as career counselors, coaches who help people get more organized, financial counselors) and now and then to residential facilities. In some cases, the matter is adequately handled with a few sessions here, and no further referral is needed.

Unless you don’t consent, we will typically follow up with you, sometimes at the clinician’s discretion, but almost always around 4 months after your first LCL visit, via email, mail, or phone call. We ask how you’re doing, and request that you rate anyone to whom we’ve referred you. This is, of course, partly so we can evaluate our own services, but it also provides an opportunity to determine whether there is something more that we can do for you. In addition, at any point in the future, you may return to LCL for assistance if new concerns arise (or if the old ones rear their heads again).

We don’t currently run a group exclusively for law students but are happy to help source additional interest whenever someone lets us know of a need — email our Marketing Director, Rachel (rachel@lclma.org).

Law students frequently attend our Addiction Recovery Peer Support Groups.

Law students in early motherhood are welcome to join SuperMom, where most others are practicing lawyers but would offer effective advice and warm support.

Law students experiencing symptoms of ADHD or ADD are welcome to join Practicing Law with ADHD Support Group — again, most others are practicing lawyers but would offer effective advice and support.

You can find a full listing of our currently active groups here — and feel free to contact group leaders with further questions.

They will not find out about LCL, since our services require no payment from you or from your insurance company. If, however, we refer you to for further professional assistance and you choose to file with your insurer, some health plans will send them a statement. We can also help you plan how to talk to them about your need for help.

YES. We can assess and refer for these kinds of problems as well.

YES. You may instead choose to come in with him to kick off the process by sharing your concerns (which he may not be able to see as clearly as you do). You could also meet with us alone to brainstorm about how to approach him on this matter. What we don’t do is go out and bring him in ourselves – one must choose to get LCL assistance.

NO. Your use of LCL’s services is strictly confidential, unless you request otherwise. (An exception to this would be if your Dean or school required you to visit LCL and you signed a waiver of confidentiality.)

NO. Again, your use of LCL’s services is strictly confidential, unless you request otherwise. In fact, pursuant to Supreme Court rule and patient-therapist confidentiality rules, LCL may not disclose that you have sought assistance, absent your consent.