Lawyers, Gambling, and Trust Accounts: Why the Expansion of an Old Vice Requires a New Approach to Protecting Client Funds

Since the late 1980s, legalized gambling in the United States has expanded at a furious pace. While Americans have embraced this change with enthusiasm, it has caused a sharp rise in compulsive gambling. This development has placed every client in harm’s way. Because lawyers are at a very high risk of developing a gambling addiction, client trust funds now are more susceptible to theft than ever before.

Accordingly, this article proposes that a new form of protection be mandated to safeguard clients from attorneys who are or might become compulsive gamblers.