It is a myth that an individual seemingly functioning well at work could not also be an addict and suffering from severe emotional trauma. My own experience painted a picture of an individual who continued to maintain the façade of functionality at work despite the extent of my alcohol and drug use. I looked like a functional lawyer, but I …
My name is Mary-Ellen King. I am the current president of the Austin Bar Association. This is my story. I grew up in church, a star athlete, always a leader—secretary of my high school’s student-government association, sorority officer, involved in campus politics, president of alum clubs, Rotary president, president of the Austin Bar, and leadership in various foundations, to name …
The Lawyer Well-Being Committee of the Austin Bar Association invites you to participate in a fundraiser for suicide awareness and prevention. The fundraiser is a walk that will take place on Oct. 26 at 10 a.m., starting at the Texas Capitol. These “Out of the Darkness” walks are hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), which has chapters …
Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with the permission of the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program (TLAP). TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-TLAP (8527) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. At the ripe age of 41, my entire life has been leading up to the …
The Austin Bar Association is launching the “Stop the Stigma” campaign, an initiative of 2024-25 President Mary-Ellen King, to destigmatize mental health substance abuse struggles, as well as raise suicide prevention awareness in the legal profession. The two tentpoles of this new campaign are the newly launched Stop the Stigma podcast, as well as increased efforts to recruit authors to …
Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with permission from the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program (TLAP). TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges with substance use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-TLAP (8527), or find more information at tlaphelps.org. It’s hard to remember a time when I didn’t feel uniquely awful growing up—where I felt …
Mary-Ellen King is a partner at Lucosky Brookman LLP, where her practice focuses primarily on complex insurance coverage litigation, commercial litigation, business litigation, general civil litigation, and real estate litigation. King takes the reins as president of the Austin Bar on July 1, 2024. Austin Lawyer recently interviewed her about her plans for the upcoming bar year. AL: What are …
Reprinted with permission from the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program (TLAP), this article was written by an anonymous author. TLAP offers confidential assistance for lawyers, law students, and judges struggling with substance use or mental health issues. Call or text TLAP at 1-800-343-8527 (TLAP) or find more information at tlaphelps.org. I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder when I was six …