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?

eurochick - am an accountant and have pretty much same view on some of the people I work with. The more surprising thing I think (as my father is a recovering addict) is how long people can go where there is an obvious problem and there is no intervention/help even when its obviously affecting their work -some quite extraordinary enabling or denial goes on.

Its probably up there in terms of accuracy/worth with the accountancy age survey a few years ago that said something like 74% of male accountants interviewed thought that they were a suitable date for liz hurley

I'm a lawyer, most of my friends are lawyers, most my wider circle of acquaintances are lawyers. The vast majority drink hardly at all. You can't do the job if you're in anything less than tip top mental shape.

Gigondas The Gazette is loo paper in magazine form...

Not unless they've stopped using that heavy glossy paper . . . ouch!

What Lunatic said. In what realm does 30% equal 'most'?!

I know a few barristers who sniff, IYKWIM.

I was fortunate enough to work very closely with solicitors for 25 years. I don't just mean a couple of solicitors either. My work brought me into fairly close contact with hundreds of solicitors. Alcoholism is no more nor less prevalent amongst them than amongst the general population in my personal experience.

The LSG is a joke these days. Well, they've been a joke for a good number of years actually.

And, don't worry, Andrewofgg, the glossy paper went years ago. Think thin, cheap loo roll now.

There is probably a high proportion of alcoholism among lawyers because the job is so bloody stressful.

Be nice to us please.

OP - I'm not suggesting your question is inappropriate. I don't think any of us would still be members of MN if we were only able to talk about nappies.

It just struck me as an odd post for a first time poster who is, apparently, a non-lawyer and non-alcoholic. There are a lot of journalists who post here, one-off threads on slightly odd topics.

Maybe my DailyFail-journo alarm is a little over sensitive tonight. 'Cos they hate lawyers and hate working women, so a lovely survey suggesting that women lawyers are all alcoholics would be right up their street.

Not an alcoholic, though I have had days when I've thought to myself that it might not be a bad idea.

I'm more amazed that anyone reads the Gazette rather than any spurious invested statistic about lawyers and booze.

Eh?

I have only known one lawyer who I think could probably be a borderline alcoholic.

I don't even take the plastic of the Law Society Gazette and I have perfected the art of chucking it over my shoulder and hitting the bin every time without even looking round.

BeeBread If you wanted to be popular you should not have become a lawyer.

The same applies to estate agents, sellers of new exhausts, and tabloid reporters.

I used to work in the law and a lot of my friends are lawyers. Most of them drink quite a lot, although I would not describe them as alcoholics. Drinking generally seems to be fairly endemic in the UK, particularly among higher income groups. Maybe it's partly to do with the stresses of the job, but in some sectors the clients actually welcome entertainment which tends to involve copious amounts of booze. Frankly, someone who isn't prepared to do a bit of liquid bonding with the clients isn't likely to make partner in some firms. A lot of barristers I know also drink a lot, although probably less so if they have to be in court next morning, as they are on the front line - there is nobody to hide behind if they are having an 'off' day!

I am closely related to several lawyers & lots of alcoholics; they are mutually exclusive groups, in my family, anyway.

As for original Questions from OP... well, lots of very clever alcoholics are also very high functioning and carry on competently in their career for a long time; it's not ideal, but amazing how well some people juggle.

I know a few hundred lawyers, three of whom I would consider to be significantly alcohol dependent. Have never seen any evidence that their work is impaired by it.

The only person I know who would have two beers instead of one before driving is a lawyer, but he's not alcoholic.

I'm a lawyer and work in a city firm and don't know any other obvious alcoholic lawyers - there is no way you could do the job if you were....

I know a lawyer who is a recovering alcoholic but then again I know about twenty more who most certainly aren't alcoholics. Remembers to draw line on whisky bottle to check DH's consumption.

The way most pressure groups work with these reports is to extend the definition of X ( in this case alcoholics) to an irrational limit, typically design surveys to maximise the result, and then exaggerate like mad in press reports ( eg 30% being "most")

YABVVVU I'm a solicitor and barely drink at all and I can speak for all of my colleagues too.

Also to nickschic who says: 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

I don't understand this comment. If your son is at Uni still then he is a law student he is not a trainee lawyer. There is no such job as a "Trainee Lawyer" in any event. You are either a Trainee Solicitor or a Pupil Barrister. Your son won't be training to be a lawyer until he has actually started his training be it as a trainee or a pupil.

From Andrewofgg's post - what is the least popular occupation then?

I would put lawyers fairly low on the list.

AndrewofOgg: not asking to be popular. Just some civility and appreciation from our clients, for whom we work unreasonable hours and under massive amounts of pressure.

Doctors have a high rate of alcoholism and drug addiction.
Similar reasons I expect.
30% isn't most though, is it

Pendeen and BeeBread Lawyers are not popular because we are a distress purchase - people come to us at a difficult or stressful time. Ditto estate agents and sellers of new exhaust systems.

Tabloid reporters are unpopular because . . . well, I need not bother to finish that sentence.

And BeeBread if you want civility and appreciation: well, about five years ago I heard a Recorder say to a QC who said "This case needs five days before the end of a year before a High Court judge" "Mr X, look out of the window, they are flying and they go oink-oink-oink"!