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Do the Disgraced Deserve a Second Chance?
Disgraced ex-New York governor Eliot Spitzer is getting a second chance of sorts. Via Overlawyered, we learn that Eliot Spitzer is now writing a column on financial markets for Slate. For Professor Bainbridge, however the Slate deal reflects our growing tolerance of public figures behaving badly.
Scott Greenfield comments that one benefit of offering a column to someone like Spitzer who's fallen so low is that it frees him to write honestly, without regard for an impact on his career.
Though seemingly unrelated, this week's news offers another example of a controversial figure attempting a comeback. The Recorder reports that Tower Snow Jr., former head of Brobeck Pheleger, a San Francisco firm that tanked back in 2004, now seeks to return to the law. A year before Brobeck's bitter end, Snow jumped ship with a practice group for an opportunity to build a West Coast office for Clifford Chance, a move that drew some criticism from observers, who believed the Snow's departure hastened the firm's demise. The West Coast opportunity didn't pan out, however, and for three and a half years, Snow took time off to raise his daughter. But now, once again, he's interested in returning to a firm.
Will other firms welcome Snow with open arms? Or will they question his loyalty after the way he ended his time at Brobeck?
Whether someone who's broken laws (as did Spitzer) or acted questionably (as did Snow), we are apt to give second chances where the transgressor has something to offer. Spitzer's gig at Slate will give the magazine huge exposure, plus potentially valuable content. As for Snow, if he can deliver the goods for law firms, he's likely to get a second chance as well.
Posted by Carolyn Elefant on December 5, 2008 at 02:34 PM | Permalink
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