Asshole-Free Sections

Bob Sutton's No Asshole Rule has legs. 

Why? 

Because people are simply fed up with assholes in the workplace.  Assholes in the marketplace. Assholes in the courthouse. Assholes ruining the everyday comforts of life.  It is really a work-life balance or blending issue that needs to be addressed.

Companies have instituted, and companies are instituting, the No Asshole Rule.  Law firms are even slowly coming around to the fact that these people have to go.  Asshole attorneys single handily destroying the practice of law.  Lloyd Gosselink, an Austin, Texas based law firm, claims to apply THE RULE aggressively.  Perkins Coie, a national firm based in Seatle, has as well.  And, some courts and bar associations are finally taking action.  As reported in The Village Voice, New York attorney Kenneth Heller was finally disbarred for "being an asshole". 

I particularly like the post on Writing, Work and Weasels about the pub were one of the regulars posted a handmade sign informing all of the raunchy, drunken and loudmouth patrons of the "Asshole-Free Section".  Well, I am here to tell you that it is about time for our state bar associations and courts to provide asshole free sections, as well. 

The problem is that most of these objectionable lawyers have gotten away with it for so long, they no longer recognize their gaming, bitching, obtuse, degrading, disingenuous, objectionable, rottweiler tendencies as anything for which they should be ashamed.  In fact, many view these tendencies as zealously representing their clients.  These attorneys, of course, are wrong.  These attorneys are diseased.  For the sake of an honorable profession, these attorneys have to go.  Like with cigarette smoking, the only way we are going to end these types of pervasive conduct is to create asshole-free sections, and then increase those sections in size and number until these people find there is simply no place for them in our legal society.

Comments

[CJA Cole]

What actions are necessary to expose acts by attorneys that meet the criteria of your article? Subpoena Abuse, lying in affidavits, etcetera? How do you expose such an attorney like Kenneth Heller?

[Holly Roark]

YES! Two jobs ago I kept a copy of the "No Asshole Rule" book on my desk. Of course, none of the assholes noticed, and if they had they would not have recognized themselves because after all, as you point out, they have deceived themselves into believing that they are simply "zealous advocates". Anyway, I eventually went solo. I was afraid I would go postal in the office if I did not get out of it. Keep up the great blogging.