Depressive Disorders and Attorney Discipline
Friday, February 25th, 2011One of the most common bases for disciplinary complaints is an attorney’s failure to act diligently or to communicate with his or her clients. Too often these complaints are the result of depression or a depressive disorder. A case in point is Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Cecchetti. In Cecchetti the attorney had a history of discipline related to a lack of diligence and failure to adequately communicate with his clients. The facts of this case are worth reading to get a sense of the disruption depressive disorders may have on an attorney’s professional life. It is also important to note that documenting the disorder and obtaining treatment may have an impact on the discipline imposed.
Lawyers appear to have a high incidence of depressive disorders compared to other professions. It’s important to watch for the warning signs of depression in the attorneys in your practice. Information on depression and what to look for may be found here. Early intervention is important to the attorney’s treatment and to prevent the illness from spilling over into your practice or to serve as mitigation if a disciplinary complaint has been filed. If you or someone you know needs help, a great starting point is Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers. Information on LCL can be found on line at www.lclpa.org.
