Chat boards, blogs, Facebook pages, tweets and more are the ready receptacles for associate gripes, whining, belly-aching and wailing. I am amazed at those who passionately defend their constitutional right to free speech, yet haven't the foggiest clue about exercising good judgment, being self and employer respecting, and otherwise selfishly guarding one's own reputation online.
Yesterday, New Jersey Law Journal reported that a federal judge would issue restraints against a disgruntled former associate of Levinson, Axelrod who has trashed the firm on the Internet. This now-solo lawyer was an associate at the firm for six years, but now has such animus that, by all appearances, he has devoted all his waking hours to disparage this law firm.
Good for Judge Anne Thompson. She hasn't published her final list of "restraints" yet, but I hope she editorializes plenty about the trasher's bad judgment.
Associates: Don't do this! Whether Above the Law or Facebook or Twitter, exercise judgment and think long term about your career. This virtual vitriol will hang in the air over your head for years.