DEFEND YOURSELF! –
Nov. 26, 2025 – Protecting immigrants’ rights, representing corporate clients, fighting against ICE detention and advocating for social justice are just a few high-pressure reasons why an attorney’s job is rarely nine-to-five. These stressors can disproportionately lead to substance use, mental illness and burnout among legal minds. As an addiction medicine physician who has worked in homeless shelters, Rikers Island jail and advocacy spaces, I have crossed paths with many attorneys, judges and other legal professionals. I have observed first-hand just how diverse and demanding this field can be. The hours are long and the stakes are high. The unrelenting pressure can take a toll at a very human level. Law is a licensed profession that influences all aspects of society, the economy and government. Thus, any impairment can be of great consequence and should be closely evaluated.
The numbers are concerning. A study of over 12,000 licensed, employed attorneys found that 20% experienced problematic drinking that is “hazardous or harmful,” and higher than that of other professions. Another survey among legal professionals found that 36% of respondents had scores consistent with problematic drinking. Among law students, a U.K. study found that over two-thirds of first- and second-year students had scores suggestive of an alcohol use disorder.
