Ethics Archives - Page 4 of 9 - Professional Liability Matters

August 6, 2015 Ethics / Law Practice Management

Client Communication: What’s Enough/Too Much?

The duty to communicate is essential to every aspect of the fiduciary duty a lawyer owes to the client. Proper communication ensures that we are identifying and serving our clients’ interests. It’s possible today to be technically “available” to clients 24-7. But how much availability is required, and where is the line? That’s the subject of a recent ethics case against a Texas attorney, resulting in sanctions for unreasonably ignoring a client.

The Texas Commissioner for Lawyer Discipline’s petition alleged that the attorney failed to …

July 29, 2015 Ethics / Legal Malpractice

Ahoy! Attorney Sunk by File Transfer In Shipwreck Case

Much of our discussion at PLM revolves around duties to clients during the time of representation. However, your professional duties and ethical obligations to a client do not end when the engagement ceases. As illustrated by one recent swashbuckling tale, an attorney has a duty to provide a former client with that client’s file, and may not withhold these materials to leverage other benefits, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the end of the engagement.

The client discovered a shipwreck filled with gold, and its …

July 23, 2015 Ethics / Settlement

Attorneys Admonished for Settlement Posturing

Attorneys have a duty to act as zealous advocates for their clients. This duty is particularly important during settlement negotiations, where counsel’s strategy and negotiation skills play a significant role in achieving a favorable result. However, settlement statements that are intended to deceive one’s adversary can quickly cross the line from permissible posturing to unethical misrepresentations of fact.

This issue was recently brought to the fore in an opinion from the California Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct. The opinion addressed whether there are …

July 22, 2015 Ethics / Technology

Failure to Keep Up with Technology Could Lead to Ethics Violation

Technology is rapidly changing the manner in which businesses operate. This is equally true for professionals, who must incorporate and adapt to technological advances in order to thrive in a competitive marketplace. However, keeping up to date with technology is not merely a matter of protecting the bottom line. Professionals who fail to stay on the cutting edge could violate ethics rules and jeopardize their client’s interests.

The State Bar of California Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct recently issued a formal opinion addressing …

July 14, 2015 Ethics

99 Problems But A Conflict Ain’t One

Conflicts must always be at the forefront of an attorney’s mind throughout the life of an attorney-client relationship. An attorney’s first duty is to her client, but what happens when a witness in a case also seeks representation? Can you represent a party as well as a witness? Such a question creates the potential risk of disqualification, as illustrated by a recent lawsuit involving hip-hop mogul Jay-Z.

In this case against Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella record label, a designer claims he was not paid in full for …

July 9, 2015 Ethics

Case Closed? Ethical Obligations Upon Termination of Representation

Under Model Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15 and 1.16, a lawyer must safeguard a client’s property and deliver it promptly to the client upon the client’s request and upon termination of representation a lawyer shall take whatever steps are reasonably practical to protect a client’s interest. The ABA recently issued a formal opinion clarifying and updating a lawyer’s ethical obligations under these Rules and addressing practical considerations regarding the application of these Rules to practice.

The opinion addresses a scenario in which a lawyer has …

June 23, 2015 Ethics / Legal Malpractice

The Ethical Implications of Legal Ghostwriting

Ghostwriting on behalf of pro se litigants has sparked an interesting debate. Although unrepresented parties may be at a bit of a disadvantage when presenting their position to a represented adversary, some may take advantage of an attorney lending assistance behind the scenes. Legal ghostwriting is one form of “limited-scope representation”, or the unbundling of legal services, a practice in which a client retains an attorney for limited tasks as opposed to the traditional handling of all aspects of a matter. Rules regarding this …

June 17, 2015 Ethics

Limitations on Local Counsel?

Attorneys often utilize local counsel to assist in a venue they are not licensed. The role of the local counsel will vary from case to case. Generally speaking, local counsel have a more limited role in the litigation. However, according to a recent NY ethics opinion, a limited role does not necessarily mean limited responsibilities or risks.

Attorneys who agree to act as local counsel may be subjected to certain unanticipated risks or obligations despite their limited role in the litigation. According to …

June 16, 2015 Ethics

Professionals Don’t Kiss and Tell

Professionals love to promote their success stories. Securing major victories can help attract new clients and help establish professional reputation. This is especially true of attorneys, who are often solicited to comment on public aspects of a case once it has concluded. However, post-case commentary could lead to a violation of the attorney’s duty of confidentiality—even when the information discussed concerns issues that are widely known or publicly available.

The State Bar of California Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility recently published a proposed opinion addressing …

June 11, 2015 Ethics / Privileges

Perusing Privileged Papers Prohibited

What to do? When reviewing discovery provided by your adversary you stumble upon a privileged document. It happens…sometimes privileged materials fall through the cracks and into the hands of opposing counsel. Do you read it, burn it, return it? According to a recent New Jersey decision, reading an inadvertently produced privileged document may be grounds for disqualification.

In this med-mal dispute, counsel for the plaintiff produced a document that was prepared by the defendant hospital during its investigation of the underlying allegations. The defendant …