When Caplin & Drysdale founder Mortimer Caplin turned 100 last summer, he recalled his early years as a lawyer, and how his colleagues enjoyed liquor in the office each evening. He liked the tradition, so he kept bourbon and soda behind a globe on a shelf in his own Washington, D.C., office. I wanted it to be a special place, he said.
Caplin s office happy hours ended years ago, like end-of-day cocktails in most professional offices. But a culture of work-related drinking persists in many places in Big Law and that can cause problems in a profession that is especially prone to alcoholism.
The legal industry is well aware of the alarming statistics: One-third of attorneys drink too much, with a significant percentage acknowledging they have a problem.
Still, bottles of liquor are often displayed in rainmakers and managing partners offices, and firms regularly underwrite firm-hosted happy hours and alcohol-fueled parties for everyone from summer associates to new laterals.
The issue of addiction in the profession has bubbled up several times this month, after ProPublica published a story describing a wild holiday party hosted by Kasowitz Benson Torres. (A spokesman for name partner Marc Kasowitz denied the story s suggestion that he struggled with alcoholism.)
Another story in The New York Times detailed the extent of addiction in the legal profession as it recounted the overdose death of a Wilson Sonsini Goodrich partner. I firmly believe that law-firm culture, particularly at big firms, has to become more compassionate and more aware of the signs that one of their own is struggling, the author wrote.
A release valve
On a Twitter conversation after the Times story, several lawyers chimed in to discuss how heavy drinking is sometimes enabled by law firms. They described how alcohol flows at weekly happy hours, barbecues, even firm softball games.
Some events, like group spinning classes, kayaking and hiking trips, don t involve booze, though many more events do.
There is not a law firm function that happens without alcohol, said Link Christin, a former attorney who now heads Caron Treatment Centers addiction recovery program for legal professionals. When you have these events, they essentially put the seal of approval on drinking. And there s sort of an expectation you re going to be drinking.
The examples are easy to find: Litigation groups frequently bring in dinner and drinks so they can work late. Others mark the end of the week by summoning bottles or a bartender to the firm premises.
Telecommunications boutique Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis signals the close of the week by ringing a gong to start its happy hour, Washingtonian Magazine noted in its 50 Great Places to Work in Washington list this year. Arnold & Porter has long had a bar as a feature in the office.