Gambling Addiction? Working Together to Help Lawyers Understand and Recover

As a Washington State attorney and long-time Board Member of the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling (ECPG), a 501(c)(3) organization addressing gambling disorders, I am grateful for the services WaLAL provides as a free, confidential, and independent 501(c)(3) lawyer assistance program.  

WaLAL provides peer support services to Washington lawyers, judges, and law students dealing with the myriad addiction and other mental health challenges disproportionately faced by those in our profession.  Accordingly, ECPG is pleased to work with WaLAL on gambling disorder issues as well as the many other addiction and mental health challenges that have high instances of co-morbidity with gambling disorder.  

I recommend watching the powerful video, by former attorney Michael J. Burke, about his lived experience with gambling addiction (and alcoholism).  He is the author of the book, Never Enough:  One Lawyer's True Story of How He Gambled His Career Away (ABA Book Publishing 2008).  This topic was also the August 2025 cover story of the ABA Journal, "All About the Action:  Are Lawyers More at Risk for Gambling Addiction?”

Dave Malone is a Partner at the law firm of Miller, Malone & Tellefson in Tacoma.  He has served on the Board of Directors of the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling since 2008, including terms as President, Treasurer, and currently as Vice President.