The American Bar Association's pledge campaign to address substance abuse and mental health issues may not spark a sudden transformation, but legal professionals said it's a signal that more people in the industry recognize the severity of the problem and want to do something about it.

Brian Cuban, a lawyer in recovery for substance abuse who has authored a memoir about his experiences, called the ABA's effort “smart” and said law firm leaders don't always see how such issues can affect them.

Changes to the industry's culture, and systemic reforms to battle abuse in the profession, aren't going to happen overnight, said Cuban, who has spoken out about his struggle maintaining sobriety while working for his brother, billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. “Recovery is one person at a time; culture change is one firm at a time,” he said.