Attorneys work long hours under intense pressure. Because stress levels are high, attorneys often look for ways to blow off steam, leading to a “work hard, play hard” motto for those in the practice of law. When months of hard work and long hours ends with a big closing or trial win, celebrating with a round of drinks (or even several) is par for the course.
There is a dark side to this issue, however, including circumstances where “letting off steam” and “celebrating a win” leads to substance abuse. Attorneys appear to be uniquely susceptible to incidence of drug and alcohol abuse, self-harm and mental illness. Experts have long pointed to evidence that attorneys are more likely to have a dependency issue or mental health issue than many other professionals.
