Addiction can be an emotional and upsetting thing to confront, and attorneys are more likely to be affected by it than other working professionals. Addiction can stay hidden in the legal world for a long time, but eventually will deteriorate the personal and professional life of the person it affects. Lawyers are prone to concealing and denying their addiction problems in order to save their reputations, but often the addiction will just grow stronger over time and will eventually be impossible to hide.

It is very important that the colleagues of an addicted attorney connect them to the treatment they require, for the sake of the individual and for the sake of the firm, as addicted attorneys are more likely to get their firm sued for malpractice. Attorneys who seek treatment for addiction are statistically more likely to regain their sobriety and become an asset to the firm again. Through detoxification, counselling, medical and mental treatment and ongoing support, it is possible for legal professionals to defeat their addiction and embrace recovery.

There are several signs to watch for if you suspect that an attorney you know may be suffering from addiction. These signs are as follows:

• Poor attendance. Because substance abuse physically affects a person, it is common for an attorney who is addicted to miss work, court appearances and appointments with clients because they are not feeling well.

• Inappropriate consumption. It is typical of an addicted substance abuser to become intoxicated at inappropriate times, which, in the case of an attorney, may be during work hours or at lunch on a work day, in court, at a Bar meeting or at a social gathering.

• Unethical or incompetent conduct. Addiction will affect the decision making capabilities of an attorney, and they may begin to do things that are out of character, such as misuse funds, miss deadlines or give poor performances in court.

• Personal problems. Lastly, personal problems will start to arise for an addicted attorney, such as a decline in the quality of their personal and professional relationships and a tarnished legal reputation.

If you or someone you know in the legal profession is misusing drugs or alcohol, it is important that they receive rehabilitation treatment as soon as possible. Severe cases of substance abuse can be life threatening and require immediate professional intervention and rehabilitation.