Lisa Smith, lawyer and author of Girl Walks Out of a Bar, shares with Mark Yacano her tale of addiction and substance abuse. She discusses what it has taken to become sober and how she is now bringing attention to—and trying to normalize—mental health issues within the legal profession.
Lisa Smith is a recovery advocate, writer, speaker, podcast host and lawyer. Prior to beginning her more than 20-year legal administration career, Lisa practiced law in the Corporate Finance group of a leading international firm. She most recently served for more than five years as the deputy executive director of a leading New York City firm.
Lisa is the author of Girl Walks Out of a Bar, her award-winning memoir of high-functioning addiction and recovery in the world of New York City corporate law. She also co-hosts the podcast, Recovery Rocks, an inclusive discussion of issues affecting people in all kinds of recovery.
Passionate about breaking the stigma of addiction and mental health issues, Lisa is a frequent speaker at law firms, law schools, bar associations and other organizations. She serves on the Advisory Board of Law.com’s Minds Over Matters mental health reporting project. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Lawyers Depression Project, which works to break the stigma around all mental health disorders and to provide peer support.
Lisa is a graduate of Northwestern University and Rutgers School of Law, where she served on the Editorial Board of the Rutgers Law Review.
