No matter which side you practice, a career in criminal justice is a call to public service and an important function of our great democracy. Despite uncertainties you may have about your future, I advise you to fearlessly go forth and take that first step.
If remote practice becomes a norm, management and supervision obligations may present difficult ethical issues.
The American Bar Association reported in October 2019 that 26% of law firms had experienced security breaches.
Some lawyers face State Bar discipline because of deliberate misconduct; others, because stupid misconduct put them there.
“The pandemic forced many of us
to do telemedicine for reasons other than emergency care. We also have patient privacy and confidentiality obligations. We have to be just as cautious.”
Rules 1.9(a) and 1.18(c) address conflicts involving representing a current client with interests that are ‘materially adverse’ to the interests of a former client or prospective client on the same or a substantially related matter.
In this edition of the Ethics Column from San Diego Lawyer, attorney Macbeth guides us through the lawyer-witness rule.
Next time a colleague asks you for a courtesy extension of some deadline, remember, the decision is most likely yours, not your client’s.
Every lawyer knows it is unethical to file a frivolous lawsuit. However, the answer to the question of whether a lawsuit – or a defense to one – is frivolous, is not always easy or obvious.
The attorney-client privilege deals with communication. By contrast, our confidentiality obligation covers all information acquired in relation to the representation. From whatever source. Even if it’s public.