Justia Connect Webinars The Addicted Lawyer: How We Got Here. Where We Are Headed.

The Addicted Lawyer: How We Got Here. Where We Are Headed.

Brian Cuban, lawyer, author, and mental health awareness and recovery advocate, shares his story of experiencing mental health and substance abuse issues as a lawyer and his journey to recovery from alcohol, cocaine, and bulimia. Substance use disorders in the legal community are a well-known issue that can substantially impair an attorney’s ability to practice law and adhere to professional obligations.

Brian walks attendees through his life, starting with his childhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, growing up with his brother, entrepreneur Mark Cuban, his experiences at Penn State University and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and his voyage through addiction and recovery while practicing in Dallas, Texas. Within his story, Brian illustrates the ways in which mental health and substance abuse issues can present in law students and lawyers, as well as how traumatic childhood experiences can have long-term consequences in adulthood.

Topics covered include:

Substance Use Attorney Wellness Law Practice Legal Ethics

Agenda:

Introduction to Brian Cuban and How Addiction and Depression Impacted His Life

What is a compassionate community?
A peek into Brian Cuban's life experiencing addiction and depression as an attorney

The ABA Betty Ford Hazelden Study on Problem Drinking in the Legal Profession

Brian Cuban’s upbringing and childhood and how each affected his mental health
How traumatic childhood events can have long-term consequences for health in adulthood
Introduction to the concerns examined in the ABA Betty Ford Hazelden Study, including alcohol use, substance abuse, mental health issues, and the help-seeking behaviors of lawyers

Why We Are So Vulnerable as Legal Professionals

Brian Cuban’s experiences as a college student and law student
How mental health and substance abuse concerns may present in young adults and law students

How Mental Health Impacts Law Firm and Lawyer Productivity

Brian Cuban’s life as a lawyer experiencing struggles with mental health and substance abuse
How depression may relate to addiction and how each concern can exist independently but intersect
How untreated addiction issues correlate with higher rates of legal malpractice and misconduct

What We Can Do To Solve the Problem

Brian Cuban’s recovery story
Building empathy
Fostering a compassionate community

Questions & Answers

Duration of this webinar: 60 minutes

Originally broadcast: January 04, 2024 10:00 AM PT

Webinar Highlights

This webinar is divided into section summaries, which you can scan for key points and then dive into the sections that interest you the most.

00:00 Introduction

Brian Cuban is introduced as the speaker, highlighting his background as an attorney, author, and mental health advocate. Brian discusses the concept of a compassionate community, which prioritizes the well-being of all members and encourages support for those struggling. He emphasizes the importance of breaking the stigma around mental health issues in the legal profession. Brian shares his personal story, illustrating the common struggles faced by legal professionals, including addiction and depression. He advocates for fostering a culture of compassion within the legal community to support colleagues and oneself.

05:11 Mental Health and Addiction in the Legal Profession

Brian recounts a personal story involving trading basketball tickets for cocaine, illustrating the irrationality of addiction. He describes the paranoia and shame associated with long-term cocaine use, highlighting the lack of self-awareness about his addiction. Brian shares his history of substance abuse, including alcohol and cocaine, and his struggles with bulimia. He details the impact of addiction on his life, including failed marriages and a near suicide attempt. Brian emphasizes the biological nature of addiction and its pervasive effects on mental health. He reflects on his journey to recovery, acknowledging the challenges faced while practicing law.

11:02 Personal Struggles and Recovery Journey

Brian reflects on his childhood in Pittsburgh, describing his struggles with self-esteem and bullying. He shares the impact of his difficult relationship with his mother and the fat-shaming he experienced at home. Brian discusses the correlation between family dynamics and mental health issues, emphasizing the importance of understanding personal stories. He recounts a traumatic bullying incident involving his gold disco pants, illustrating the lasting impact of childhood trauma. Brian explains how these experiences contributed to his depression and eating disorder. He describes his desire for acceptance and the self-deprecating humor he used as a defense mechanism.

21:55 Challenges in Law School and Early Career

Brian describes his anxiety and struggles during law school, including binge eating and alcohol abuse. He recounts his experience with the Socratic method in class while unprepared due to substance abuse. Brian shares his feelings of inadequacy and projection of negative self-image onto others. He reflects on his decision to move to Dallas to be with his brothers, seeking unconditional love and support. Brian describes his introduction to cocaine and the temporary self-love it provided. He emphasizes the destructive cycle of addiction and the artificial sense of acceptance it created.

33:00 Addiction and Professional Consequences

Brian discusses the professional consequences of his addiction, including failing the Texas Bar Exam multiple times. He recounts a DWI arrest and the privilege of having the case dismissed due to the trooper's retirement. Brian reflects on the unethical conduct he engaged in while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. He shares his decision to attempt suicide and the intervention by his brothers that saved his life. Brian acknowledges the intersection of depression and addiction, emphasizing the importance of addressing both. He describes the privilege he had in accessing resources for recovery and the support from his family.

44:02 Recovery and Building a Compassionate Community

Brian shares his journey to recovery, highlighting the support from his brother and the privilege he experienced. He describes meeting Amanda and the impact of their relationship on his recovery process. Brian emphasizes the importance of recovering for oneself rather than for others. He discusses the role of therapy and the concept of a compassionate community in his recovery. Brian reflects on the importance of honesty and vulnerability in overcoming shame. He shares the significance of forgiveness and letting go of anger in his healing process.

55:40 Support Strategies and Audience Q&A

Brian discusses strategies for building a compassionate community within the legal profession. He emphasizes the importance of empathy-building skills and storytelling to foster emotional connections. Brian introduces the two-ask rule as a simple tool for showing care and support. He answers audience questions about balancing support with professional concerns and finding recovery resources. Brian shares his experience with 12-step meetings and the importance of support during recovery. He suggests workplace strategies for supporting recovery, including having a point person for confidential discussions.

Please note this AI-generated summary provides a general overview of the webinar but may not capture all details, nuances, or the exact words of the speaker. For complete accuracy, please refer to the original webinar recording.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

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California CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Prevention and Detection Competence

Earn Credit Until: January 3, 2026

South Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Substance Abuse/Mental Health

Difficulty: All Levels

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2025

North Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Professional Well-Being

Earn Credit Until: February 28, 2026

Texas CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 Legal Ethics/Professional Responsibility

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2025

This presentation is approved for one hour of Prevention and Detection Competence CLE credit in California, one hour of Substance Abuse/Mental Health CLE credit in South Carolina (all levels), and one hour of Professional Well-Being CLE credit in North Carolina. This course has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE in the amount of 1.00 credit hours, of which 1.00 credit hours will apply to Legal Ethics/Professional Responsibility credit.

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Speaker

Brian Cuban Attorney at Law

Brian Cuban is an attorney, author, and mental health awareness and recovery advocate. He is the author of the best-selling book The Addicted Lawyer, Tales of The Bar, Booze Blow & Redemption. His debut novel, The Ambulance Chaser, was released as the #1-selling debut paperback thriller.

He has spoken at law firms, conferences, non-profit events, colleges, and universities across the United States and in Canada. He also writes extensively on these subjects. His columns have appeared on CNN.com, Foxnews.com, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, and in online and print newspapers around the world.