Blackburn Clinical Services provides one-on-one therapy and psychiatric care for law students and California bar applicants in Los Angeles. We help with test anxiety, panic, burnout during bar prep, depression after a failed attempt, sleep problems, ADHD and drinking or stimulant use that started as a way to keep up. Care is private: nothing is shared with your school, an employer or anyone else without your written permission. Call (888) 870 7405 or email info@blackburnclinical.com.
At a glance
- Who we see: 1L, 2L and 3L students, LLM students, recent graduates studying for the bar, and applicants preparing to retake it.
- What we help with: anxiety and test anxiety, depression, burnout, sleep, ADHD and attention problems, and alcohol or other substance use.
- Where: Therapy takes place in our office at 12326 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066, in Mar Vista near Culver City, Venice and Santa Monica, or by secure video for clients located in California.
- Psychiatry: Psychiatric evaluation and medication management are provided by our board certified psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners. When you call, we explain how psychiatry appointments are arranged.
- Fees: We are an out-of-network practice and provide superbills. See Fees and Insurance.
- First step: call (888) 870 7405 or email info@blackburnclinical.com to schedule an assessment.
Why law school and the bar are hard on mental health
In the Survey of Law Student Well-Being, which drew responses from more than 3,300 students at 15 law schools, 17 percent screened positive for depression, 37 percent screened positive for mild to severe anxiety, and 43 percent reported binge drinking at least once in the prior two weeks. Many said worry about bar admission would discourage them from getting help: 45 percent for a mental health concern and 63 percent for an alcohol or drug problem (The Bar Examiner, December 2015).
The California exam adds its own pressure. The State Bar of California gives its two-day General Bar Examination twice a year, in February and July. On the February 2026 exam, 30.8 percent of the 3,931 applicants passed: 43.9 percent of first-time takers and 23.1 percent of repeat takers (State Bar of California). Many capable people need more than one attempt, and studying again while working, carrying debt or watching classmates start their careers is a real strain.
What therapy can help with
- Test anxiety and panic. Racing thoughts during practice exams, freezing on essays, panic in the testing room. CBT based approaches target the thoughts and body responses that drive test anxiety.
- Bar prep burnout. Weeks of full-time study can flatten sleep, exercise and relationships. Therapy helps you build a sustainable schedule and notice when exhaustion is turning into depression.
- After a failed attempt. Shame, avoidance and the decision about when, or whether, to retake. We help you sort out what got in the way, including anxiety, attention or life circumstances, and plan the next attempt.
- Attention and focus. If you suspect ADHD, ADHD testing is available in person at our office, and psychiatric evaluation can follow. Testing does not guarantee any exam accommodation; the State Bar sets its own testing accommodation rules.
- Drinking and stimulants. Using alcohol to come down or nonprescribed stimulants to study is common and risky. We treat substance use and the stress beneath it together. See dual diagnosis treatment.
- Imposter feelings and identity. Comparing yourself with classmates, family expectations, and doubts about whether law is the right path. Blackburn also offers career coaching for later career decisions.
Privacy and the bar
Seeking treatment is a sign you are taking care of your ability to practice. At Blackburn, anything we share with anyone outside your care team happens only with your written permission; your school, the State Bar and future employers do not hear from us. Questions about how the State Bar’s moral character process treats health history should go to the State Bar or to a lawyer who advises applicants. The State Bar of California Lawyer Assistance Program also serves law students and State Bar applicants, offers a free assessment and short-term counseling, and says it does not release participation information without your knowledge or consent. Blackburn is a private practice and is not affiliated with the State Bar.
When you are already practicing
After you pass, the pressures change: billable hours, trial dates and client crises. See therapy for attorneys and legal professionals. Attorneys referring a client or a client’s family member can see for estate planning and family law attorneys.
Students in medical, business, doctoral and other graduate programs can see therapy for graduate and professional students.
Questions
Will my law school or the State Bar know I am in therapy?
Not from us. Anything we share with anyone outside your care team happens only with your written permission.
I failed the bar. Is therapy worth starting before I retake it?
Many people find it useful to start well before the next exam, so there is time to work on anxiety, sleep, attention or mood while you study. Call to schedule an assessment.
Can you test me for ADHD during law school?
Yes. ADHD testing takes place in person at our office. Results can support your own treatment planning; any exam or school accommodation is decided by the school or the State Bar under their own rules.
Can I be seen during a full-time bar prep schedule?
Yes. We offer flexible scheduling and work around your study plan and exam dates within our weekday hours, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Therapy sessions take place in our office or by secure video for clients located in California.
Do you take insurance?
We are an out-of-network practice and provide superbills you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement. Student health plans vary, so check your plan’s out-of-network benefits.
Get started
Call (888) 870 7405, email info@blackburnclinical.com or contact us. Blackburn Clinical Services is at 12326 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency.