Douglas Keene, Ph.D., and Rita Handrich, Ph.D., have published a new article at The Jury Expert titled, “Tattoos, Technology, Tolerance and TMI: Welcome to the Land of the Millenials (aka Generation Y).”  The premise by Keene and Handrich is that Millenials (those born between 1980 and 1993 or so) have been unfairly tarnished as entitled, narcissistic and unprepared to work hard.  The authors cite several examples of rather harsh language flung at the youngest adults in our society in an effort to prove that they are somehow less worthy of our respect than the grizzled wise men amongst us:

Here is a brief run-down of what we hear routinely but what is unsupported by the consensus of the data. Millennials are “disloyal, anxious and disrespectful” (Kovarik, 2008). They are self-centered, not motivated, disrespectful and disloyal (Myers and Sadaghiani, 2010). They are a generation of “whiners” (Hershatter and Epstein, 2010). They are illogical, likely to be unwashed and not professional (Greenfield, 2009). They are narcissistic, self-important and entitled (Jones, 2010). They are ‘whiny’ losers, ungrateful, insubordinate, and unwilling to ‘pay their dues’ (Greenfield, 2008).

The last quote is by none other than Scott Greenfield in his Simple Justice opus, “The Slackoisie Fight Back.”  While it is a post from two years ago, I believe his view has been consistent since and is followed by some other lawyers who are my age (I am a Gen X’er) and older.  Keene and Handrich argue that “as with most younger generations, much of what we read in both professional publications and in the popular media is based on opinion, anecdotal data and assumptions. In the legal arena some of us call that bias.”  They go on: “It seems odd that we allow the perpetuation of such negative stereotypes about generational affiliation but decry those based on sex, race and religion.”

I believe that there are indeed generational differences.  The Millenials very well may have a different set of attitudes than Gen X and definitely different than those who made this current world, Boomers.  I was born post-boom and am very early Gen X, as such I have had a pretty good seat watching both generations.  All I can say is that the vitriol by those who have penned the pejorative ”slackoisie” is soaked in ironic childishness.  We’ll ignore for the moment exhibit A of Old-Manism which is to misdirect a pejorative.  The term “slacker” re-entered the modern lexicon with two films - “Back to the Future” by Robert Zemeckis in 1985 and “Slackers” in 1991 by Richard Linklater - by late Boomers describing Generation X.  Millenials were still playing with original Transfomers then.

The generational difference I alluded to is one of attitude.  The world has become incredibly small and fast - due to the technological leaps and bounds made possible by the post-War era.  As such, people are no longer tied to a particular place, creed or religion.  Generation Y may be marrying later, if at all, but when they do get together, they do so with far less regard to the race or religion of their partner. Hence, our future is an inter-connected, brown-skinned and agnostic one.  But Generation Y, as Keene and Handrich mentioned, are also the children of divorce and single parents.  More of them have dealt with the loss of a second parent in the home than ever before.  They also heard the Yuppie (i.e. Boomer) message of the 80s as they grew up - “get yours, get it fast and get more.”  The effect is that many young people (not all, I don’t want to generalize) were taught at a young age that when it comes down to it, one can only rely upon oneself.  They got the Boomer message given to them just right.  The constant refrain from the media is that if you are young you have to look fabulous (Sex and the City) and live fabulous (The Hills).  At same time, the financial industry (led by Boomers) made getting the BMW, the platinum credit card and the mortgage for a loft extremely easy.  Why would one be surprised that some young folks have a sense of entitlement?

This is not what I see from my perch.  As a board member of a non-profit which seeks to re-introduce competitive debate into the urban high schools to one of my roles at my work conducting training seminars from time to time for young felony attorneys, I see a generation which wants to move up quickly and do whatever it takes to get there.  What is absent is buy-in that it takes 10 years to arrive at the destination.

I don’t know if the backlash, by those I dubbed the “Dependoisie,” is grounded in jealousy.  How else to explain, “You put your money on the table and you get something in return.  The only thing that’s missing on you, boomer wannabe, is genitalia.” (Greenfield.) What I see from the younger attorneys I am in contact with at my work, or whom I share with on Twitter, is passion.  Sure, some here in my office would rather go home at 4 p.m. every day, but there are a whole bunch of young lawyers here who simply know how to win trials. Scott Greenfield got that right, being a lawyer is “a profession of effectiveness” and they are very effective - but not perfect.  Being an older lawyer now, however, is also one of being a quiet example.  Save the old war stories. Save the, “when I was young …” nostalgia. Young attorneys, I have found, want to know how something is done. Sure, I wish more wanted to also know the why, but that is something that can be worked on.  On the other hand, they don’t need the venom of a hoary old snake spit at them.  

So, go forth young lawyers! I hope you get a job. I wish for you that you find meaning in what you do.  Let the old ones fade away who are satisfied with an effective job well done and not much more. I think, deep down, they wish they had your freedom.

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