Legal Research

"Don't Deck the Clown: Inviting Humor into the Law Firm"

This post was written by StephanieWestAllen: "Written 13 years ago, the thoughts I express in this article have changed a bit, but much of what I have written I still believe. What do you think?

From "Don't Deck the Clown: Inviting Humor into the Law Firm" (Law Governance Review) [pdf]:

Law firms can be very somber, serious places in which most members may at first discount the role of humor in addressing many of the current challenges to the legal profession. This article offers a view of why humor is important and how it can be incorporated into the practice of law. The author makes a case for taking humor seriously, because it can make the difference in achieving a higher level of performance and success.

Suppose a clown were invited to your firm on a whim of a senior partner. The clown is dressed in a colorful costume, and, in his curly-toed shoes, he pads through the hallways, peeking in the doorways, pausing to be acknowledged or invited into offices where lawyers are busy doing what lawyers do; the clown is ready to offer a wide smile and a friendly greeting. How would the clown be received? Would he be shunned or go unnoticed? Would staff members be embarrassed by his presence? How would the lawyers, paralegals, and other staff members respond?..."

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Source: idealawg, 5 April, reproduced with permission of the author.

Full post as published by Stark County Law Library Blawg on April 06, 2010 (boomark / email).