Lawyers have very stressful jobs. A small mistake or oversight on their part can have major implications for their clients. Lawyers generally need to be on their A-game whenever they represent their clients in court or during negotiations.
They need to understand the area of law that they practice, respond appropriately during in-person conversations and educate their clients about how to navigate a legal matter. Unfortunately, all of the stress combined with the long hours associated with attorney work can damage a lawyer’s mental health and relationships. They may begin self-medicating with alcohol, prescription medication or prohibited drugs. Self-medicating can potentially lead to malpractice if it compromises a lawyer’s abilities.
How addiction may affect a client
Alcohol abuse is quite common among attorneys. Research indicates that many lawyers self-report consuming more alcohol than they should or drinking more frequently than is healthy. In some cases, lawyers can restrict their inappropriate use of alcohol to their personal time.
However, many lawyers see their substance abuse issues bleed into their careers as their dependence and use escalate. A lawyer’s problem with alcohol might mean that they show up to court or meetings still under the influence or struggling with a painful hangover. They might over-indulge at meetings, leading to them presenting a less-than-professional appearance.
They might drink while researching or preparing for a case, only to overlook or forget the details. In any of those circumstances, the representation that they provide for their clients may not meet the current standard maintained by other legal professionals.
A lawyer’s conduct becomes malpractice when it does not meet basic professional standards and when there is a provable impact on their clients. The choice to file a legal malpractice lawsuit can help clients hold a lawyer accountable. They can pursue compensation for the fees they paid the attorney and also any economic harm directly associated with their attorney’s professional failures.
Recognizing legal malpractice and acting promptly to address it can potentially lead to compensation for affected clients and may protect others from having the same experience later. A lawyer accused of malpractice may change their habits or may no longer be able to practice law if state authorities decide to take disciplinary action against them.