Honigman is the First Michigan Law Firm to Sign American Bar Association’s Substance Abuse Pledge

Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP is proud to be the first Michigan-based law firm to sign the American Bar Association’s pledge to address substance abuse and mental health issues in the legal industry. Honigman is joined by twelve law firms in signing the pledge, including Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Duane Morris, Latham & Watkins, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, Nixon Peabody and Perkins Coie.

The pledge seeks to reduce the level of substance abuse disorders and mental health distress in the legal profession. Firms that sign the pledge’s seven-point framework commit to providing mental health and substance abuse education to attorneys and staff, change the role that alcohol plays at firm events, provide confidential access to addiction and mental health experts, and implement back-to-work policies following treatment. The ABA hopes that all legal employers will take the pledge by January 2019.

“Wellness has long been a priority for the firm and we are very proud to be an early adopter of this pledge,” said David Foltyn, Chairman and CEO of Honigman. “While Honigman already provides robust wellness, mental health and confidential, no-cost substance abuse counseling, the ABA pledge provides the framework to improve our offerings.”

Honigman’s early participation in this campaign is one of the firm’s most recent efforts to promote wellness and to address the needs of their community. Over the past few years, Honigman has broadened its summer associate program to include more activities that don’t feature alcohol such as volunteering, kayaking and cooking classes. The firm has also offered progressive mental health programs, such as a digital health training program that explored the impact of digital habits on the mind, body and spirit.