Jerk Partners Beget Jerk Partners: Ending Big Law's Cycle Of Dysfunction

Following up on my previous posts (links below):  Law.com, Jerk Partners Beget Jerk Partners: Ending Big Law's Cycle of Dysfunction:

Are you a jerk partner? If so, we’re betting there’s a supervising attorney in your past whom you’re channeling.

In today’s episode, we talk about the cycle of dysfunction in which terrible-boss behavior is passed down from generation to generation inside law firms. It goes something like this: Because it was difficult for you, you’re going to make it difficult for those below you.

To talk about the phenomenon are Kathleen Pearson, chief human resources officer at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, and Patrick Krill, founder of Krill Strategies, a consultancy that works with law firms on mental health and substance abuse issues.

We explore how being on the receiving end of toxic behavior has an impact on attorney mental health, including problems with depression, anxiety and substance abuse. We also consider how such behavior can indicate a mental health challenge experienced by the partner behaving poorly.

Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:

• "No Jerk" Rules and Faculty Hiring (Oct. 17, 2007)
• Are You an "Office Asshole"? (Nov. 2, 2007)
• Are Assholes More Successful in Academia? (Feb. 26, 2013)
• Collegiality: Legitimizing Tenure's Fourth Rail (June 14, 2013)
• Are You a Jerk at Work? (Nov. 26, 2014)
• Law School Special Snowflake Trigger Warning: I’m A Jerk (Dec. 24, 2014)
• How to Tell If You’re a Jerk at Work (Feb. 27, 2015)
• The Atlantic: Why It Pays To Be A Jerk (May 24, 2015)
• Why Faculty Workshops Should Not Be 'Safe Spaces': Law Profs Need To Be Adversarial (But Not Jerks) Because Of Law Reviews' Lack Of Rigor (May 5, 2017)