When you imagine someone struggling with addiction, what do you picture?
For many, it’s not a high-level attorney closing million-dollar deals and crushing deadlines. But that’s precisely who Lisa Smith was—until the drinking and drug use became too much to hide.
On this week’s episode of the Sober Life Rocks Podcast, I sat down with Lisa, a lawyer, author of Girl Walks Out of a Bar, and co-host of the Recovery Rocks podcast, to talk about what addiction looks like in high-pressure careers, and how sobriety unlocked a life she never thought possible.
“The Legal Profession is Soaked in Alcohol”
Lisa doesn’t sugarcoat it. From client dinners to late nights at the office, alcohol is deeply ingrained in the culture of law. What started for her as “work hard, play hard” spiraled into 24/7 drinking and cocaine use, all while holding down a prestigious legal job.
“The alcohol brought me down. The coke pulled me back up. It was this terrible balancing act just to make it through the day.”
Until it wasn’t.
A Panic Attack and a Turning Point
One morning, Lisa experienced a panic attack so intense she thought she was dying. That terrifying moment became the catalyst for change. She checked herself into detox and began the hard work of getting sober, without disappearing from her job.
Instead of inpatient rehab, she pursued outpatient treatment, evening sessions, and 12-step meetings. It wasn’t the traditional route, but it worked for her.
“If you can go to treatment, go. It’s a really big deal. I just couldn’t picture it then.”
Sobriety + Success = A New Chapter
In early recovery, Lisa didn’t tell her colleagues she was getting sober. But her energy shifted. Her mind cleared. And not long after, she landed a dream job, a significant promotion at a top law firm.
She stayed for 10 years. No one there ever knew her as anything other than the brilliant, sober professional she had become.
Writing Her Way Into Recovery
Journaling became Lisa’s lifeline in early sobriety. Eventually, it led to her powerful memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar. Before publishing, she sat down with the managing partner at her firm and told him what the book was about.
“I’ve got your back,” he told her.
That support—and the courage to tell her story—set the stage for her second career as a speaker and advocate.
Advocacy, Tools & The Sobriety Deck
Lisa now speaks across the country about addiction and mental health in professional spaces. And when she noticed there were no daily tools for sober-curious people, she created one.
Partnering with her podcast co-host Tawny Lara, she launched The Sobriety Deck: 50 cards filled with prompts, affirmations, and mindset shifts to support every stage of the recovery journey.
What Lisa’s Story Teaches Us
Here are a few takeaways that stuck with me:
Success doesn’t equal wellness. Addiction doesn’t care how impressive your résumé is.
There’s no one way to get sober. Outpatient, inpatient, meetings—it’s about what works for you.
You don’t need to hit bottom. If alcohol doesn’t feel right, that’s enough reason to explore change.
Your story matters. Telling your truth might give someone else permission to tell theirs.
Resources from This Episode
📘 Girl Walks Out of a Bar
🎧 Recovery Rocks Podcast
🃏 The Sobriety Deck
📣 Book Lisa to speak
Stay Connected
If Lisa’s story resonated with you, subscribe to Sober Life Rocks for more conversations like this. New episodes drop twice a month, and we’re here to remind you that…
Sobriety isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of everything.
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