LAWCARE: increasing demand for advice on setting out special terms of employment

Law firms are using 'last chance agreements' to facilitate the return to legal practice of recovering alcoholics.

The legal support service, LawCare, has seen increasing demand for advice on contracts laying down special conditions of employment for solicitors who have fallen victim to alcohol addiction.

Contract terms include obliging employees to participate in a treatment programme and submit to regular alcohol tests, and commitments to meet certain standards of behaviour.

They can also give the employer authority to contact Alcoholics Anonymous or similar organisations to ensure the employee has been attending sessions and get advice on how to integrate the solicitor back into a practice.

LawCare administrator Anna Jones said: 'These contracts have important benefits for the solicitor involved, who may otherwise be sacked, as well as for the employer.

They make it clear that the firm is aware of their addiction and that they are being monitored.

They also make it easier for the firm to support the employee.'

Ms Jones added, 'Too often, solicitors with alcohol problems are elbowed out with a good reference, and the problem is simply passed to another firm.

It is much better for the profession as a whole to encourage recovery.

There has even been research in the US that has shown that solicitors who have recovered from alcoholism receive far fewer complaints about their work than those who have never suffered from an addiction.

They seem to be working harder.'

Recent research by Alcohol Concern has shown the legal profession to be one of the most prone to alcohol addiction.

Ms Jones said: 'From the calls we have received, I would estimate that 10% of solicitors are drinking at dangerous levels.'

But law firms are significantly better than other sectors at reducing staff stress, according to research.

A recent survey of 500 organisations, including 50 law firms, conducted by Manson Warner Healthcare has found that 19% of solicitors' practices are taking steps to support staff, compared to 5% of companies overall.

Most of the firms surveyed had more than 21 partners.

Rachel Rothwell