"Attorneys have stressful jobs and many turn to alcohol as a form of self-medication to relax. Problem drinking is much higher for attorneys than for the public. Attorneys with a drinking problem are more prone to malpractice complaints and ethical violations. This article discusses why drinking by lawyers is a big concern and how you might address it."
"Drinking too much is difficult to define because it is socially acceptable. Meeting clients and colleagues for a drink after work is a part of the law firm culture. Lawyers are expected to drink, especially if the client has a drink. There also is no bright line test for the appropriate amount of alcohol to consume. It depends on the person and the lapse of time between drinks."
"Yet, alcohol can be a crutch and a convenient way to quickly escape the stresses of work when you get home. See my prior IPWatchdog article on the stresses faced by lawyers. I had a colleague once tell me that her husband who was a lawyer at a big firm had a martini every night as soon as he got home. I never asked if he had more than one."
"Drinking may be fine if it's moderate. This depends on the person and the circumstances. Some people cannot handle alcohol and that is okay. A drink is fine if you don't drink to excess and have other means to deal with stress, such as exercise or meditation. Drinking just masks the stress until you really need to deal with the underlying cause."
Attorneys face stressful work and many use alcohol to relax, leading to higher rates of problem drinking than in the general public. Drinking is socially accepted within law firm culture, including meeting clients and colleagues for drinks after work, and expectations to drink when clients do. There is no clear threshold for appropriate alcohol intake because it varies by person and timing between drinks. Alcohol can become a convenient escape from work stress, masking underlying issues rather than addressing them. Moderate drinking may be acceptable for some, especially when paired with other stress-management methods like exercise or meditation. Excess drinking can quickly damage careers and create serious workplace consequences.
Read at IPWatchdog.com | Patents & Intellectual Property Law
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