Legal professionals are often subject to jokes by the general public but men and women in this profession are actually known for their intelligence and hard work in dealing with complicated legal matters.

With the high-stress levels and short deadlines routinely associated with their day to day work, legal professionals often push themselves beyond their physical and mental limits. This trend is in line with other similar high-stress careers including police officers, doctors, emergency first responders. Attorneys and lawyers are also known to choose unhealthy habits to cope with the pressures, stress, and anxiety that come with their profession.

More specifically, alcohol abuse in combination with depression and anxiety are known to be relatively more common among legal professionals than in others.

An additional point to take into consideration is that lawyers and attorneys also suffer from extremely high levels of mental health problems. It has been reported that as high as 40% of law students suffer from depression right after their first year in law school. This unfortunate problem seems to continue all through their law school into their careers.

A study by the American Bar Association studies the frequency and quantities of alcohol consumption in 12,825 licensed and employed lawyers in 19 states around the US.

Based on anonymous responses to a questionnaire provided by study participants, results indicate that more than a quarter (28 percent) suffer from depression while 19 percent exhibited symptoms of anxiety.

Considering the functioning of the legal system, it is a common understanding that attorneys who argue cases in courts find that they have to compromise their ethical and moral values. They may also have to take positions that are contrary to their belief system and defend people they think are guilty. This is likely to generate an inner conflict depending on the personality and personal convictions of the lawyer.

Addiction to alcohol and drugs in the legal profession is a big problem that unfortunately put an end to many promising careers and lives.  

Taking steps to addressing mental health and stress related triggers early on in the law school is an important consideration.

It appears that finding a good work-life balance is difficult for lawyers and attorneys. This is especially true in the case of junior lawyers who generally will not have control over their schedules and workload.

An indirect factor for some of the stress experienced by men and women in legal profession is said to be high levels of debt that gets accumulated when studying in the law school. This huge burden could create a lot of pressure when the graduating young lawyers make their career decisions. It is important that these young professionals with a promising career need to keep in mind that their well-being is tied to keeping themselves physically and mentally healthy.

Fortunately, several treatment options in a private and confidential environment are available. It is important to seek help as soon as they recognize signs of addiction or substance abuse.

A majority of attorneys and other legal professionals regularly face ethical dilemmas and stress as part of their day to day work in high-pressure, competitive workplaces. Attorneys are among the professions listed under those prone to abuse of alcohol and drugs as a way to cope with the stress.

Surveys confirm that the rates of alcohol abuse in the legal profession are among the highest of any career in North America. This is reflected in the general impression among the public of a ‘drunk lawyer’.

Since lawyers are also highly paid professionals, it can be assumed that they get timely treatment for their addiction problems.

However, the biggest barrier to getting addiction treatment is said to be the belief among attorneys that admitting they had a problem could bring a bad reputation, damage their image in the society and essentially ruin their very career. They may also be afraid of co-workers finding out about their addiction or substance abuse.

These barriers to seeking the essential timely help calls for treatment options that can maintain a high degree of confidentiality and privacy.

For legal professionals, services exclusive to them have been the most effective in treating addiction. The first step is overcoming fear and asking for help.

International Lawyers in Alcoholics Anonymous is a group of recovered attorneys and judges carrying the message of recovery within the legal profession. Their primary role is to serve as a bridge between Alcoholics Anonymous and the legal professionals who are afraid or reluctant to seek help or in denial.

Experiences from the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous show that attorneys are worried about their anonymity if they attend the program. Even when they get over denying that they have a substance abuse problem, they are still reluctant to be seen publicly by attending the AA sessions.

If you are a legal professional feeling the overwhelming demands at work, it is advisable that you speak with your supervisor or a trusted mentor.  This is the most effective first step you can take. Many employers are committed to the physical and mental well-being if their employees and will be ready to help address the concerns. In addition, there are a number of other recovery resources available – such as paid time off or company-funded addiction treatment.

It is also important to talk with a family member or trusted friend who will be able to understand and give advice. This will help reduce pressure and provide much-needed support. To identify the best treatment option, it is useful to set up an appointment for a substance abuse evaluation with a counselor.