Ethics

As we all know, there is more to being ethical than just "doing the right thing." Following the rules is not always intuitive, but Lawyerist contributors like Eric Cooperstein, Roy Ginsburg, and others walk you through some of the key ethics issues facing all lawyers.

Unauthorized Practice of Law Rules for Multijurisdiction Practice

June 16, 2010

Many states have adopted rules of professional conduct relating to multijurisdictional practice. These rules provide attorneys leeway in some circumstances when they are acting as lawyers outside of the state where they are licensed to practice. But not all states apply the same rules. Failure to know the rules of the state where you’re working [...]

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Wash That Client Right Out of Your Hair

June 10, 2010

Many of the posts on Lawyerist focus on how to get good clients; we spend very little time talking about how to get rid of bad clients. As a general rule, the goal is to keep the clients around once they hire you. Nevertheless, for some clients, the lawyer’s advice should be limited to “don’t let the door [...]

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Attorney or Umpire, We All Make Mistakes

June 7, 2010

Last week, it was front page news about how umpire Jim Joyce blew a call that cost Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game. After the game, Joyce admitted his mistake and apologized to Galarraga in person. The following day, Galarraga, when asked about Joyce’s apology, responded, “He couldn’t even talk, he was crying. [...]

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Top 5 Social Media Ethics Concerns for Lawyers

June 2, 2010

The people in charge of lawyer ethics oversight in your state see social media either as just another form of communication, or as a special threat to client confidences and attorney decorum. Do you know what rules apply to you?

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Is E-mail Secure?

April 19, 2010

Whether your e-mail communications are secure depends on what you mean by security. In general, sending and receiving e-mail is about as secure as using a mobile phone. Listening in is possible, but it is also fairly unlikely. Of greater concern, given the government’s propensity in recent years to snoop around in everything—without a warrant, [...]

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A Non-Engagement Letter Is As Important As An Engagement Letter

March 11, 2010

In this electronic age, lawyers can encounter potential clients in more places and in more ways than ever before. Many lawyers will speak with potential clients by telephone rather than requiring the prospective client to come in to the office for an initial consultation. More and more often, the lawyer never meets the potential client. But even [...]

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