Peter Faris, a prominent Melbourne lawyer, has put silks in a snit by saying that cocaine use is widespread in the profession.

If true, why would this be?  Here's a suggestion: 

Julian Burnside, one of the most respected members of the legal profession in Australia, has just come out with a truly bizarre idea.  He wants to jail politicians for lying.

Eh?  That's like jailing boxers for fighting, that is!

The guy is either amazingly naive, insane, or both.  But there is no evidence that he was out of his tree when he said this.  If he is indicative of the kind of fruit loop who domina tes the profession, then lawyers inhabit a terrifyingly topsy-turvey world.  I reckon that's why so many of Burnside's peers are on drugs.  They're using them to stay grounded.