Michelle Fontenot, JD, MEd

Director, Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program

Michelle Fontenot attended college and graduate school the first time at The University of Texas, where she received B.A.'s in history and psychology and a master’s degree in counseling psychology. After working as a counselor in the Seattle area for over 15 years, she attended Seattle University’s School of Law, where she graduated cum laude and earned her J.D. in 2009. Since graduating from law school, Michelle has worked as a lawyer in both nonprofit and private practice, primarily in family law. Michelle returned to the Austin area in 2019 and worked for the State Bar of Texas, first as the Grievance Referral Program manager and currently as director for the Texas Lawyer’s Assistance Program. Michelle is licensed in both Texas and Washington State.

Michelle is passionate about combining both her law and counseling degrees in each of her job pursuits, having experienced first-hand the challenges and joys of a practicing attorney. Michelle believes that well-being in the legal community is the responsibility of each of us and lawyer well-being is more than checking off boxes on your “to-do” list. It is a recognition that optimal physical, mental, and emotional health allows legal professionals to thrive both in work and in life.

If you are having a mental health crisis or are actively considering suicide, please call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Also, for online self-care resources, including group support, check out TLAP’s “Support Toolbox” page.
 
TLAP IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL: TLAP does not share any information from an attorney, law student, or judge seeking help from TLAP with non-TLAP third parties, the State Bar of Texas, the Board of Law Examiners, the Chief Disciplinary Counsel, or any other disciplinary agency or entity. TLAP keeps all communications confidential at all times pursuant to the statutory confidentiality granted by the Texas Health and Safety Code Section 467 except in the very rare “life or death” circumstances to save a life from imminent harm - and even in those situations only minimum details required to save a life would be shared with an emergency responder). TLAP is staffed by attorneys who have spent many years struggling with addiction and depression, and our team would go to any length to protect the people we care about most, those seeking help! If there is any fear of consequences in calling TLAP, we encourage those in need to call us anonymously - we can help.