To think most lawyers are alcoholics?

[sexonthebeach]

I was having lunch with a lawyer friend earlier today and she had a periodical called the Law Society Gazette which reported that a survey indicates that at least 30% of lawyers are alcoholics. Can this be right? It's a bit worrying isn't it, as most of us need to consult them at some stage of our lives?

How was the survey done? Whom did they ask? Who defined alcoholic?

92.8% of all statistics are bogus and made up on the spur of the moment.

I know quite a few lawyers, none of them are alcoholics. I'm a law student and I don't touch alcohol. There you go, theory disproven.

30% isn't most.

It is a high proportion though and likely reflects a combination of the pressures of the job and the type A personality that goes for it.

Kladdkaka you aren't a lawyer yet. When you are it appears 30% of you will have to start drinking!

Most of us certainly drink too much (and don't really care); but I have only met a few real alcoholics

Solicitor here. I have two children under 5. I barely have time to wash let alone get drunk. I need insomnia anonymous not AA

I think tis the same in most high-pressured careers. Functioning alcoholism is widespread amongst the medical professions, so my Dr friend tells me, so of course that's anecdotal.

Did read something about professionals going abroad to re-habs from the UK, so as retain some privacy. Very sad, a horrible disease.

I've found the article. It's based on a questionaire completed by 61 people of which 59 were member of a support group for lawyers with alcohol issues.

You rang? :)

I've known some partners who were rather fond of a tipple but no one who appeared to be a functioning or non-functioning alcoholic.

My ds is a trainee lawyer .....he cant bear the thought of alcohol and drinks fruit juice - give him 3 years to complete his degree and ill let you know .

Andrew I'm rather partial to tirimisu. Does that count?

SAHM. Private education.

As a lawyer I can't help but feel slightly annoyed at your thread title

I am a lawyer and I am most certainly not. And how is 30 per cent most?

And by the way "lawyers" is an all-encompassing term including law students, law lecturers and in-house lawyers.

I'm a lawyer and not an alcoholic. I like a drink, most of my colleagues like a drink, but I'm not aware of any of them or others I've worked with being alcoholics. I can think of one man in another local firm, but that's all.

I haven't read my copy of the Gazette yet this week, but the statistics sound very odd. 30% alcoholics? 59 out of 61 in a support group? Unless the Law Society is counted as a support group (fat chance! the world's worst trade union!) I don't think so!

If it's true, it would explain why our indemnity premiums are sky-rocketing.

Just seen you are a first time poster. Interesting topic to choose for your first posting on a parenting website.

Kladdkaka You are on the slippery slope . . .

This survey is not worth jack shit, is it?

No it isn't. It's like going to one AA meeting and using that as proof that the majority of humans are alcoholics.

Law Soc Gazette prints a load of drivel half the time.

Seabright, there are lots of threads on MN from people with alcohol problems, so why is my question inappropriate, as you seem to be suggesting? MN isn't just about which brand of nappies to use, or at least I don't get that impression.

The article was a bit vague in that it didn't define alcoholism but presumably those drinking a long way beyond the recommend 'safe' drinking levels. However, these were the statistics based on those who had been diagnosed and the suggestion was that the actual figure was much higher.

I'm a lawyer, as are lots of my close friends and family members. Not one of us in an alcoholic. I have known a couple of alcoholics. One of them was a lawyer, but the other was a SAHM. Damn statistics.

Yes, I noticed that, seabright.

Lot of it abaht at the mo...

sounds a bit odd- as pathan says, why single out lawyers as opposed to other professions/trades. my experience of alcoholism (and narcotic addiction) is that its not limited to particular professions (or age range or sex).

The Gazette is loo paper in magazine form...

I'm a lawyer, my husband is a lawyer. I'm not an alcoholic, my husband is not an alcoholic. I like a drink, he rarely drinks. I can't think of any lawyers I know who are alcoholics although I can think of several who probably exceed the govt guidelines most weeks, but I don't think they are addicted. I know a couple of bankers and brokers that I suspect have a problem with alcohol.

Gigondas the survey was reported in a "magazine" for lawyers.