Comments on: How to drink on the job

By: Theo

Theo — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:56:32 +0000

The answer depends on the dram shop laws on the books in your state, Palm Springs (if there are any — Nevada, for obvious reasons, doesn’t have them).

By: Palm Springs Kid

Palm Springs Kid — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 07:40:50 +0000

I have wondered for sometime now if their is a lawfirm party where abundant amount of liquor is made available from an open bar on the tab of the employer.

If any one of the employees or other party guests gets overdrunk, drives and is involved in a major accident – wouldn’t the employer face a significant amount of responsibility for serving him alcohol?

By: Neal P

Neal P — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 04:23:02 +0000

I’m in the same boat as Geoff B, former drinker.

Another tactic that was used on me in another industry: Interviewers and people doing the hiring sometimes take the prospective hire out for drinks after the interview.

Heads up: the interview is still going on.

If the interviewer can get you to drink too much (happy hour, can’t let that 2nd free drink go to waste), then so can the firm’s clients with whom you’ll work as they try to loosen your tongue.

By: Jeff Lipshaw

Jeff Lipshaw — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:42:36 +0000

Truly some of the best advice young professionals can get. My views posted last year around summer associate season and referencing Brad Wendel and Mark Herrmann of The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law can be found over at Legal Profession Blog in the post Wendel and the Curmudgeon on Good Judgment.

By: Geoff B

Geoff B — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 19:06:52 +0000

Errr, a Mormon giving advice on drinking? Isn’t that kind of like an Eskimo giving advice on how to survive in the Amazon?

But seriously, Kaimi, as a former drinker and a current teetotaler who still goes to a lot of drunken office parties, I found your advice to be good.

By: Aristides

Aristides — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 02:31:40 +0000

Excellent advice, and needed. I agree with Stephen M above…law students (and junior associates who didn’t learn their lesson in law school) could use a frank discussion on this topic…most especially the part about everything ending up online. In this age of cell phone cameras and video, it’s awfully hard to avoid somebody taking some potentially embarrassing pics of you that somehow find their way to attorneys in the firm.

And it’s not just about getting (and keeping) a job; it’s also about your professional reputation. Do you want to be the office clown, or do you want to be the one that your colleagues respect and admire?

By: Stephen M (Ethesis)

Stephen M (Ethesis) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:59:24 +0000

That is the sort of thing that belongs in the orientation package of every law student before they start on summer clerkships.

By: Stephen M (Ethesis)

Stephen M (Ethesis) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:59:15 +0000

That is the sort of thing that belongs in the orientation package of every law student before they start on summer clerkships.