First, it's a condition that does not go away. Once you develop the particular response to ethanol that results in loss of control, continued use despite adverse consequences, and the other symptoms of what is now called "Alcohol Use Disorder" (AUD), you are vulnerable to those symptoms any time you ingest alcohol for the rest of your life.
(Yes, some people "return to controlled drinking" after months or years of sobriety. This rarely ends well and most experienced professionals, social workers, etc. are well aware that successful cases are extremely exceptional.)
So, if your client has an Alcohol Use Disorder, and you are making your case based on your client's awareness of his condition, getting treatment, and maintaining some period of sobriety, you (and your client) should demonstrate one of the key elements of successful long-term recovery: knowledge of the disease. Awareness that this condition is most likely lifelong, and a commitment to maintaining lifelong sobriety to keep the symptoms at bay.
Completing one month's rehab will likely be seen as a positive factor by a knowledgeable court. But one months' sobriety is still a relatively short time and those who know this disease are aware that the first year or two can be extremely challenging, in establishing long-term recovery.
This CAN be done - and that's an important thing to remind everyone concerned. People DO achieve stable recovery and maintain it, even lifelong. It may take multiple attempts but your client is doing the right things to succeed - getting treatment, getting a sponsor.
If your client is relatively recently out of rehab, he may want to consider doing a "90 days/90 meetings" commitment to help him get through those first really challenging months. And it will impress a knowledgeable judge (family court judges are sometimes quite knowledgeable about addictive diseases, treatment, and recovery maintenance.)
Good luck to your client, and you!
encouragingly,
Bright
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