Principal and Founder
Patrick R. Krill
JD, LL.M, MA
Patrick Krill is a lawyer, board-certified addiction counselor, researcher, and advocate whose work and perspective have deeply influenced how the legal profession addresses mental health and well-being. Recognized globally as a leading authority in the field, his clients have included a majority of the world’s largest law firms, as well as numerous regional and boutique firms and corporate legal departments.
Known for a sophisticated depth of practical and trustworthy insights, a clear and engaging communication style, and an ability to easily connect with everyone from the most senior leaders to the most junior team members, Patrick excels at making nuanced topics understandable and complex problems solvable. He regularly publishes cutting edge, peer-reviewed research on lawyer mental health and has authored more than eighty published articles related to behavioral health and well-being.
Patrick's multifaceted contributions have helped shape how the legal field addresses mental health and well-being, fostering systemic change and improving the quality of life for legal professionals. His highly specialized background, collaborative approach, and unique breadth of knowledge relating to the substance use, mental health and well-being of lawyers make him a favorite speaker and trusted resource for addressing some of the legal profession's most difficult challenges.
He is regularly interviewed for both print and broadcast media, and his insights have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, NPR, CNN and countless legal industry trade publications and blogs. He also contributed a regular column to Law.com for several years addressing various aspects of lawyer behavioral health and well-being. You can learn more about Patrick and his work in this 2025 Reuters profile.
An unparalleled record of groundbreaking work to improve mental health & well-being in law
Conducted the largest-ever study of lawyer mental health and well-being, a joint research project of Krill Strategies and the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs that surveyed 36,000 lawyers and provided the first national estimate of work-related burnout in the legal profession (forthcoming).
Led the first national study on the prevalence of substance use and mental health problems among lawyers, a joint undertaking of the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
Co-authored the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being report, The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations For Positive Change.
Created the ABA Well-Being Pledge, an innovative campaign to improve mental health and well-being in the legal profession.
Served as a founding board member for the Institute for Well-Being in Law.
Created and co-produced the American Bar Association Anti-Stigma Campaign to address mental health and substance use problems.
Published the first research to identify gender-specific risk factors for mental health problems, hazardous drinking, and attrition among lawyers.
Published the first research to examine the relationship between lawyer well-being and employer values.
Published the first research to identify predictors of suicidal thinking among lawyers.
Collaborated with Bloomberg Law on their first Attorney Well-Being Report.
Conducted the first pilot study on the relationship between perfectionism, stress, and mental health problems among lawyers.
Partnered with American Lawyer Media to conduct the first-ever survey of AmLaw 200 firm leaders regarding their beliefs and attitudes related to addiction and mental health problems in the legal industry.
Prior to launching Krill Strategies, Patrick was the director of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's Legal Professionals Program, a leading clinical treatment program for attorneys, judges and law students struggling with addiction and mental health problems. While leading that program, he counseled many hundreds of legal professionals from around the world, offering distinctive guidance and uniquely qualified insights about achieving and maintaining recovery, health and well-being in the legal profession.
Patrick’s efforts have been recognized through multiple awards, including the Meritorious Service Award for Outstanding Contribution to Lawyer Well-Being from the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs and the LCL Founders Award for Service to the Profession from Minnesota Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers.
Credentials
BA: Political Science and Government, American University
JD: Loyola Law School
LL.M: International Law, American University Washington College of Law
MA: Addiction Counseling, Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies
Contact
724.719.2134