Conflicts in Love
By Mitchell L. Lathrop “But I love her,” cried the hapless attorney before the disciplinary panel, “and she expressly agreed that I could represent her in her divorce. Besides, we’ve been going together for...
Tagged: #legalethics #ethics
Ethics in Brief: Criticizing Judges — Proposed Amendment to a Rule of Professional Conduct
By Edward J. McIntyre The State Bar Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct (COPRAC) is recommending to the Board of Trustees that the Board recommend to the Supreme Court a change in Rule...
Understand Your Audience: Highlights of the California Code of Judicial Ethics
By Charles V. Berwanger Much has been written about the California Rules of Professional Conduct in this column. There is another set of rules of professional conduct regarding the ethical requirements of judges. A...
Ethics in Brief: Enforcing Civility
By Stacy Plotkin-Wolff “Lawyers who know how to think but have not learned how to behave are a menace and a liability to the administration of justice.” Excerpts From the Chief Justice’s Speech on the...
Ethics in Brief: Get Ready! Random Trust Account Audits Are Coming
By David C. Carr Two years ago, the State Bar implemented the Client Trust Account Protection Program (CTAPP). The aim of CTAPP is to deter client trust account misconduct through the imposition of a...
Ethics in Brief: How to Start 2025, A New Year Suggestion
By: Edward J. McIntyre New Year’s Day has come and gone. With it, family gatherings, festivities, football. We’re back at work, facing 2025. But, before getting knee-deep in our practices, clients, and other stuff,...
The State Bar Enforcement of Ethics Rules:What Happens When the State Bar Knocks On Your Door?
By Charles Berwanger The purpose of this article is to provide a skeletal outline of the State Bar’s disciplinary process and recommendations for dealing with it. Foundational to the Rules of Professional Conduct is...
Don’t Try to Contract Around the Rules of Professional Conduct (a Cautionary Tale)
By Katie Parker Imagine the scenario – you’ve met with a potential client, and he has a promising personal injury case. You’re excited to take it on. You’ve just started building your PI practice,...
Ethics in Brief — Balancing Ambition and Ethics: Knowing When to Say No as an Attorney
By Stacy Plotkin-Wolff You are sitting at your desk, organizing the many tasks for the three trials scheduled next month, your family obligations, and your volunteer work. You wonder how you will get it...
Ethics in Brief: Have You Been Charged or Convicted of a Misdemeanor or Felony? Beware: Your License to Practice Law May be at Risk
By David C. Carr A lot of business before the State Bar Court consists of dealing with lawyers convicted of crimes. It is an area that does not receive a lot of attention from...