Custody battle that followed Summerlin law office shooting is resolved. [RJ]
Opinion: Attorneys battle over fate of poker room bookie LeForbes. [TNI]
HOA regulation in Nevada ineffectual, captured by industry, critics complain. [Nevada Current]
Surgeon General proposes cancer warning labels for alcoholic drinks. [KTNV]
What is your alcoholic consumption like these days? Is dry January a success? Are you put off by a label? Is there more, less, or the same amount of drinking going on in the legal industry? Is drinking in the office acceptable at your firm?
I came to the law after another career, and I’m a little surprised by how little drinking goes on in the legal industry. In my previous job a single beer or cocktail with lunch was almost expected. In my brief experience in law, one drink with lunch feels almost taboo. But, everyone gets hammered at the Christmas party every year, so at least there’s that.
I think it’s a generational thing. I started out in LA where some partners drank regularly after hours. I remember being in Court in Central Div, and after lunch I could smell alcohol on the judge. Drinking at lunch was often just accepted.
My impression is that later, drinking in or around work became something of a taboo. For the newer attorneys, I think most are sober but some of them are smoking a blunt while others are on speed.
I am LDS and have been at many social events in law school and here in Las Vegas where alcohol was consumed. Not once have I been offered alcohol or been pressured, mocked or even received a good-hearted, friendly needling about not consuming alcohol. This I have always appreciated from my colleagues. And I don’t mind one bit that other people are drinking at these events. Observant Jews don’t eat cheeseburgers, I don’t drink alcohol. It’s not a big deal.
In my first 10-15 years of practice, it was pretty common for a group of maybe six or seven to go to lunch 1-2x per week, with most everyone having a glass of wine or two. In the early years especially, a partner frequently pulled out the firm card and picked up the tab for the table. This changed in the early 00’s, probably due to several factors, such as liability concerns (both DUI and sexual harassment issues if it was deemed a firm-sponsored function), as well as tightening of rules on what was deductible as a business lunch. But just changing mores about alcohol more than anything else, I would say. Those lunches would still happen from time to time (with everyone on their own dime), but they were much smaller affairs and less common.
Guest
Anonymous
January 13, 2025 10:01 am
I don’t drink at all. But somehow I missed being in the Mormon Probate Mafia. Worst of both worlds?
You got the Mormons and the drinkers and the Mormons who drink
Well pay attention ’cause it ain’t as simple as you think
They say there’s some that don’t believe in either
But I ain’t seen ’em yet and my pa ain’t neither
You know I hied Kolob once. It was pretty nice. Or maybe I hiked it. I can’t seem to recall.
Guest
Anonymous
January 13, 2025 11:01 am
I think the drinking in the industry is not necessarily social outing driven as much as the blowing off steam because one has had such a hellacious day/week/year. That is the more problematic angle i would suspect.
Guest
Anonymous
January 13, 2025 11:26 am
I am totally sober, and have been for years. If you’re drinking every day, I’ve been there and it’s awful. You can stop, and should. Your family, clients, colleagues, and most importantly yourself will thank you.
Yep. I don’t get to take anyone’s inventory other than mine. You get to decide if you should stop drinking, no one else can make that decision for you.
Guest
Anonymous
January 13, 2025 6:14 pm
Robert Adams retiring? If so, well deserved. Hell of a career.
Seems like the case based upon emails from their office. He is a fantastic person and attorney.
Guest
anonymous
January 14, 2025 10:08 am
Regarding the Prince/Houston custody issue: My hope is that the adults will act as adults, and that these children will be raised out of the headlines. They will have enough to deal with once they are fully aware of what happened.
I came to the law after another career, and I’m a little surprised by how little drinking goes on in the legal industry. In my previous job a single beer or cocktail with lunch was almost expected. In my brief experience in law, one drink with lunch feels almost taboo. But, everyone gets hammered at the Christmas party every year, so at least there’s that.
You make it sound like Scientology.
Not in my experience.
You’re drunk typing again, Lilburn. Get someone to give you a ride back to Jefferson City.
Let Lilburn know Port would be happy to give him a ride!
lol I’m ex-mormon and these are not valid criticisms of the Mormon church, at all.
I think it’s a generational thing. I started out in LA where some partners drank regularly after hours. I remember being in Court in Central Div, and after lunch I could smell alcohol on the judge. Drinking at lunch was often just accepted.
My impression is that later, drinking in or around work became something of a taboo. For the newer attorneys, I think most are sober but some of them are smoking a blunt while others are on speed.
I am LDS and have been at many social events in law school and here in Las Vegas where alcohol was consumed. Not once have I been offered alcohol or been pressured, mocked or even received a good-hearted, friendly needling about not consuming alcohol. This I have always appreciated from my colleagues. And I don’t mind one bit that other people are drinking at these events. Observant Jews don’t eat cheeseburgers, I don’t drink alcohol. It’s not a big deal.
But do you kidnap other Mormons while only hiring other peoples’ kids?
Edit: It was a joke in reference to something that got thwacked. Please don’t hurt me, Law.daddy.
Not, OP, but I only kidnap other people and hire only mormon kids.
Love when we can actually joke around on here and not take everything so serious. Much needed relief at times.
In my first 10-15 years of practice, it was pretty common for a group of maybe six or seven to go to lunch 1-2x per week, with most everyone having a glass of wine or two. In the early years especially, a partner frequently pulled out the firm card and picked up the tab for the table. This changed in the early 00’s, probably due to several factors, such as liability concerns (both DUI and sexual harassment issues if it was deemed a firm-sponsored function), as well as tightening of rules on what was deductible as a business lunch. But just changing mores about alcohol more than anything else, I would say. Those lunches would still happen from time to time (with everyone on their own dime), but they were much smaller affairs and less common.
I don’t drink at all. But somehow I missed being in the Mormon Probate Mafia. Worst of both worlds?
You remind me of lyrics by Alberta-born country artist Corb Lund:
https://genius.com/Corb-lund-family-reunion-lyrics
You got the Mormons and the drinkers and the Mormons who drink
Well pay attention ’cause it ain’t as simple as you think
They say there’s some that don’t believe in either
But I ain’t seen ’em yet and my pa ain’t neither
Tell me more about the Mormon mafia do they control the weather?
Duh. Why do you think Utah has the “Greatest Snow on Earth?
wAkE uP sHeEpLe!
Can we talk about the Jewish Mafia?
Only if you agree to share the space laser technology. ’cause that sounds pretty freakin’ awesome. Pewpewpew Timeslips!
The two mafias collide, in very Vegas fashion, and align the space lasers with Kolob.
something something stick of joseph and stick of judah
The tribes share the common surname Levitt/Leavitt, which is common in LDS church anad Ashkenazi communities.
Also a landmark furniture store in the valley, which sadly, is no more.
You know I hied Kolob once. It was pretty nice. Or maybe I hiked it. I can’t seem to recall.
I think the drinking in the industry is not necessarily social outing driven as much as the blowing off steam because one has had such a hellacious day/week/year. That is the more problematic angle i would suspect.
I am totally sober, and have been for years. If you’re drinking every day, I’ve been there and it’s awful. You can stop, and should. Your family, clients, colleagues, and most importantly yourself will thank you.
Actually, I need to start, not stop.
And I will definitely thank myself when I do.
I’m sober. And it is better for me. But I always bristle when someone tells another what they “should” do
Yep. I don’t get to take anyone’s inventory other than mine. You get to decide if you should stop drinking, no one else can make that decision for you.
Robert Adams retiring? If so, well deserved. Hell of a career.
Seems like the case based upon emails from their office. He is a fantastic person and attorney.
Regarding the Prince/Houston custody issue: My hope is that the adults will act as adults, and that these children will be raised out of the headlines. They will have enough to deal with once they are fully aware of what happened.