Lawyers and Addiction - A Lunch Conversation with Brian Cuban

Substance use disorders have always been higher than the societal norm in the legal profession. Most lawyers know someone in the legal profession whose career was either lost or significantly harmed due to addiction. Attorneys and law students like anyone else can be genetically pre-disposed to alcoholism, substance use disorders, depression, eating disorders and even adult self-harm. The stress of practicing law can be an environmental trigger to these issues. The associated shame and fear of judgment can inhibit a lawyer from disclosing these issues until there are both physical and employment consequences. In partnership with Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, Brian Cuban discusses his experiences with mental health issues, both as a law student at the University of Pittsburgh and practicing attorney in Dallas, Texas for over twenty years. Brian discusses his recovery, redefining his career as well as restoring family and passion for life.

Brian Cuban is a Dallas based attorney, author and addiction recovery advocate. He is a graduate of Penn State University and The University of Pittsburgh School of Law and is the younger brother of Dallas Mavericks owner and entrepreneur Mark Cuban.  Brian has been in long term recovery from alcohol, cocaine and bulimia since April of 2007.

Brian’s most recent, best-selling book, “The Addicted Lawyer, Tales of The Bar, Booze, Blow, & Redemption” is an un-flinching look back at how addiction and other mental health issues destroyed his career as a once successful lawyer and how he and others in the profession redefined their lives in recovery and found redemption.

Brian has spoken at colleges, universities, conferences, non-profit and legal events across the United States and in Canada. Brian has appeared on prestigious talks shows such as the Katie Couric Show as well as numerous media outlets around the country. He also writes extensively on these subjects. His columns have appeared and he has been quoted on these topics on CNN.com, Foxnews.com, The Huffington Post, Above The Law, The New York Times, and in online and print newspapers around the world.