Skip to content
LCL mental health records lawyers

Mental Health Month: Does LCL Keep Medical Records on Lawyers + Law Students? [Q+A]

This article and any resources contained therein are for informational purposes only. They are not intended to be used in place of legal or professional advice, treatment, or care in any way. Lawyers, law students, judges, and other legal professionals in Massachusetts can find more on scheduling a Free & Confidential appointment with a licensed clinician or a law practice management advisor here.

May is Mental Health Month — and stigma is still our biggest problem. The legal profession has made promising progress — but uncompromising confidentiality is always critical for individuals to find comfort in treatment. Here’s more on our record-keeping and confidentiality.

Our organization has been answering questions about lawyer well-being since 1978. In our Q+A blog post series, we’ll be featuring answers to recent, recurrent, and other important questions we’ve received via our website’s Anonymous Q+A feature.

QUESTION: 

If someone sees a therapist through your support groups does it get put into a medical record?

ANSWER: 

There are a few composite questions in your question, so let’s sort them out.

LCL runs a number of groups.

  • Our Addiction Recovery Peer Support group meetings are peer-run meetings and are not attended by our clinical staff. These are open to any lawyer or law student and are held at our office on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1 pm, with other meetings across Massachusetts listed here. These meetings are run in the 12-step tradition, and no records are kept on those in attendance.
  • Staff members facilitate our other support groups listed here, typically keeping attendance records. Feel free to inquire with group leader listed about the process for any group, and how we can accommodate any concerns you might have.

If you arrange for an individual clinical evaluation with one of the LCL clinicians, we do keep records, which are never disclosed outside LCL, except (1) if you want the records disclosed and provide written consent, or (2) if there were to be an issue of physical danger to you or someone else, which would include cases of learning of ongoing abuse of a child, elder, or disabled person. Some lawyers who are especially worried about these things register with us under a pseudonym. If we refer you to an outside licensed mental health provider after a clinical evaluation, they are also required to keep records — but, like us, would be prohibited from disclosing those records without your written permission except in cases of danger.

Both the confidentiality and the record-keeping are there with your interests in mind.

View FAQ on Confidentiality.

View More Q+A on Mental Health Treatment.

CATEGORIES: Law Students
TAGS: treatment

Share This

Related Posts

Professionals reviewing a resume on a clipboard.

Job Search 101 for Lawyers: Keys to a Successful Career Move [Webinar]

Watch to find out how to improve your chances at securing a new position in the legal profession from Amy…

Person looking out a window with a pensive expression

Alcohol Awareness Month 2022: Updates for the Legal Profession

April is recognized as Alcohol Awareness Month.   Following news of increased substance use over a year into the pandemic…

Back To Top