Clients go to lawyers and want to win.  Yes, they want to win.  No one wants to lose and the pressure is on.  Lawyers are oftentimes bullied into going the distance for their clients and forgetting the legal system’s ethical boundaries.  They may not return phone calls, file frivolous motions, and even become overly creative in the wording in the pleadings—all in the name of the win for the client.  So does bullying exist in the legal environment as well as in the corporate environment and in the school system—you bet it does!

Law firms need to act against bullying. They should create an appropriate firm culture, a set of tacit understandings that law is practiced a certain way by lawyers in the firm. Law firms need to avoid granting a 'zone of anonymity' to individual lawyers giving them a free reign because the firm will not second guess their judgments. Law firms need to avoid the suppression of information about questionable conduct. All this sounds wonderful—but is it possible?  Yes.

Law firms should encourage associates to raise concerns about ethical practices in the firm and encourage all lawyers in the firm, both partners and associates, to pursue questions about the conduct of their peers.  There should be no consequences for inquiring and disclosing.  Lawyers should not be afraid of the repercussions from the bully and fear being labeled the tattletale.  After all, it is each lawyer’s reputation that is damaged when any lawyer in the firm engages in inappropriate conduct.

Firms should create a firm ethics committee or designate an 'ethics rabbi' to give ethical and behavior advice to lawyers.  Life Coaches can take the role as these ethical coaches and should be available to the lawyers to assist them with their goals and methods of disclosure.  Life coaches can assist in the process of communication to the Managing Partner and Committee and guide the attorneys in achieving the Firm’s ethical goals. 

No one should be bullied.  It was tough enough in the schoolyard.  It is worse in the legal system.  Pressured by meeting billable hours at any cost to win and bring in the receivables, attorneys will eventually explode.  Attorneys should not be bullied into supporting the firm’s choice of political candidate or potential judge.  The need for attorneys to discuss their ethical conflict and original dreams and goals is crucial to keep them in both mental and physical good health, but also in spiritual good health.  Lawyers are needed to defend their clients against bullies…not be bullied themselves!