Lawyers tend to get a reputation for being jerks, both within and outside of the legal industry. Try as they might, they’ve been unable to shake the designation — and maybe that’s because some lawyers really are jerks.
BTI Consulting Group recently surveyed more than 1,000 lawyers to get some insight as to whether law firms are doing anything about those who could be characterized as jerks and their associated bad behavior. For some, the results may be shocking; for others, it’s really no surprise at all. Take a look:
My firm absolutely tolerates jerks and bad behavior: 22.14%
Kind of tolerates jerks and bad behavior: 31.14%
Occasionally tolerates jerks and bad behavior: 19.70%
No tolerance for jerks and bad behavior: 27.05%
Nearly 73% of lawyers say jerks are tolerated in some form or fashion at their firms. What can be done about this? BTI has some pretty sound advice on how firms can work to eliminate this behavior:
Coach and Advise
Provide an independent behavioral coach. Some jerks don’t know they are jerks – and no one wants to tell them. A large number of jerks are coachable – and can create the positive energy every firm needs.
Add it to Annual Reviews
Include key behaviors for both firm and self-evaluation. Add a quantitative component so you can easily track it.
Train Leaders to Intervene – Not Avoid
Teach leaders how to spot stealth jerks and have hard conversations. Most bad behavior lingers because leaders lack the skill – or courage – to call it out early.
Tie Culture to Compensation
Create a path to build cultural leadership as a factor in comp decisions and advancement. If someone builds a high-performing, jerk-free team – reward them like they just landed an amazing client.
BTI has the final word on how to handle lawyers who act like jerks within law firms: “Every firm has jerks. The best firms don’t let them stay jerks. Or they don’t let them stay – period.”
Jerks Welcome. Partners Weigh in on Firms Who Tolerate Jerks [Mad Clientist / BTI Consulting Group]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
