The prevalence of addictions in the legal profession in Malta : the lawyers’ perspective

Abstract

Addiction is a complicated construct which is difficult to grasp. Experts and academics researching addiction have found it challenging to reach a consensus on a definition over the years. This study focuses on the legal profession and lawyers’ perspective on addictions within the field. Different concerns within the profession are also addressed to understand this phenomenon thoroughly. This study employed a qualitative method, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with six licenced practising lawyers. Thematic Analysis was used to analyse the data. Four themes were noted from the data collected on the participants’ experiences about concerns emerging within the legal profession which are: (i) Stressors arising from the legal system, (ii) Stressors pertaining to the legal profession, (iii) Symptoms arising from the legal profession, and (iv) Coping Strategies. Findings feature the several difficulties lawyers encounter within their profession, with stressors within the justice system being one of the main concerns within the profession. A significant result is that, notwithstanding the psychological distress experienced by lawyers, there seems to be no link between this and addictions. In the conclusion of this study, policy recommendations and further research are also drawn.