The Other Bar

(Blawger's Note: The videos you are about to see are long, kinda funny, extremely sad, and very real. They capture a Las Vegas attorney who was visibly intoxicated trying to get his lawyer on. The result? Judge ordered blood test of the attorney and a mistrial. Viewer discretion is advised.)

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Now, as many of you know me, I can't really play the moral high ground here and chastise anyone for drinking. I've been colossally drunk before- embarrassing both myself and others in the process. There's not too much pride in that, although there have been some amusing stories. Still, I don't think there should anything amusing about putting a client's freedom (this was a kidnapping case which I know for a fact in California carries a possible life sentence) on the line.

So how do attorneys get to this point? My evidence professor once commented that working on Child Pornography cases (as a Deputy DA) justified drinking. I was and still am inclined to agree. The practice of law is stressful. People are asking more than you give them when they are at their absolute worst. Sometimes people think you can fix everything- sometimes this may be the case, but it's still a lot to expect. I think that leads a lot of attorneys to drink.

And sure, a lot of people can drink, go to work and get stuff done. (Seems like all of my friends do this, actually.) But when your substance abuse starts to put clients' interests at risk, the bar should, and does step in.

New attorneys and old out there, what do you guys do to stave off stress? I would be interested in the responses, so as to avoid the oh-so intelligent decision of showing up to court drunk.




Post Script: Joe Caramagno is still alive and well out there in cyberland, despite being listed as inactive on Nevada's State Bar website. Hmmm...

Post Post Script: For any of you attorneys out there that fear you may have substance abuse issues, I implore you to contact the Lawyer Assistance Program. They offer confidential counseling to attorneys who are suffering from substance abuse and mental health issues.