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Moonlight, but Don't Sell Heroin Out of Your Office

By George Khoury, Esq. on August 29, 2018 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

For many attorneys out there, the struggle is real just to keep enough money coming through the doors to pay the office bills, let alone your personal bills. Moonlighting in any non-legal industry can often feel disheartening and misery inducing, but it's better than turning to a life of crime.

While the TV show Breaking Bad was entertaining, you don't want that life for yourself. After all, we lawyers are particularly risk averse having had the reasonable person standard drilled into our brains since being reborn as baby lawyers in law school. Selling drugs out of your office, or at all really, is a big risk that jeopardizes nearly everything you've worked for. For example, consider the recent case of the New York lawyer busted for allegedly selling heroin out of her office.

Busted Selling Heroin and Pills

The Cohoes, New York attorney was ratted out by a former client who told police that she had purchased heroin from her attorney. Law enforcement investigated, and allegedly bought heroin from her on "multiple occasions."

When she was searched, law enforcement found heroin, Xanax, oxycodone, amphetamine, and Suboxone on her person, in her car, and in her home and office. She is now facing multiple drug charges for possession and distribution, as well as misdemeanors for driving on a suspended license and without an ignition interlock device (due to a previous conviction). Bail was set and posted at $50,000, and statements from her attorney seem to indicate that the full strategy still hasn't been hashed out. No word on whether she will continue practicing while fighting the charges.

Better Moonlighting Ideas Than Selling Drugs

If the thought of selling drugs enters your head as a prospective idea on how to make money on the side, even if it's to support your own drug habit, the above should serve as a strong cautionary tale -- especially if you plan on selling drugs to your clients. Clients don't owe their attorney confidentiality, and the fall will be worse for you because your license is on the line along with your liberty.

So if you need a few ideas for second jobs that won't jeopardize your law license, and you can't find something to compliment your practice, here:

  • Cook or waiter
  • Driver
  • Grocery clerk
  • Dog walker/sitter
  • Literally anything that isn't illegal

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