-
Home > This Month's Edition > With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners
With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners
By:
Sylvia Hsieh
Staff writer
Published: December 17, 2009
Tags: alternative billing, ethics, recession
Login required
You have clicked on a link to
information that is | ||
Already a paid subscriber but not registered for online access yet? For instructions on how to get premium web access, click here. |
||
Interested in Subscribing?
Start by choosing how you'd like your news delivered.
 - Print and Online - |
 - Online Only - |
![[Print]](http://lawyersusaonline.com/wp-content/plugins/dmc_sociable_toolbar/print.png)
![[Email]](http://api.addthis.com/oexchange/0.8/forward/email/offer?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>)
![[RSS Feed]](http://lawyersusaonline.com/wp-content/plugins/dmc_sociable_toolbar/rssfeed.png)
![[del.icio.us]](http://del.icio.us/post?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>)
![[Facebook]](http://lawyersusaonline.com/wp-content/plugins/dmc_sociable_toolbar/facebook.png)
© Copyright 2012 Lawyers USA. All Rights Reserved.
SUBSCRIBERS: Did you receive the new Lawyers USA Weekly Update in your inbox on Monday?
If not, click here to register and learn more now.
Most Viewed Stories
LEGAL BLOGS
DC Dicta Legal buzz from Washington
![Ask](http://myjeeves.ask.com/mysearch/BookmarkIt?v=1.2&t=webpages&url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![backflip](http://www.backflip.com/add_page_pop.ihtml?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![blinklist](http://blinklist.com/index.php?Action=Blink/addblink.php&Url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&Title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![BlogMarks](http://blogmarks.net/my/new.php?mini=1&simple=1&url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![BuddyMarks](http://www.buddymarks.com/add_bookmark.php?bookmark_title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>&bookmark_url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/){kind=link}
![CiteULike](http://www.citeulike.org/posturl?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![co.mments](http://co.mments.com/track?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Connotea](http://www.connotea.org/addpopup?continue=confirm&uri=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Digg](http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![diigo](http://www.diigo.com/post?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![DotNetKicks](http://www.dotnetkicks.com/kick/?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![dzone](http://www.dzone.com/links/add.html?description=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>&url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Fark](http://cgi.fark.com/cgi/fark/farkit.pl?u=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&h=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Faves](http://faves.com/Authoring.aspx?u=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&t=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Feed Me Links](http://feedmelinks.com/categorize?from=toolbar&op=submit&name=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>&url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/){kind=link}
![Friendsite](http://friendsite.com/users/bookmark/?u=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&t=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Furl](http://www.furl.net/storeIt.jsp?u=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&t=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Google](http://www.google.com/bookmarks/mark?op=edit&output=popup&bkmk=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Hugg](http://www.hugg.com/node/add/storylink?edit[title]=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>&edit[url]=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/){kind=link}
![Jeqq](http://www.jeqq.com/submit.php?url==http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![linkaGoGo](http://www.linkagogo.com/go/AddNoPopup?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>&summary=The+tight+economy+and+scarcity+of+work+is+tempting+many+lawyers+to+take+bigger+ethical+risks+than+they+would+during+better+times.%0ASmall-firm+and+solo+lawyers+experimenting+in+new+practice+areas+are+at+particular+risk.%0ABusiness+lawyers+are+also+being+blamed+by+clients+whose+deals+went+south.%0AWith+a+new+batch+of+solos+hanging+out+their+shingles+straight+%5B...%5D&source=Lawyers+USA+Online){kind=link}
![LinksMarker](http://www.linksmarker.com/submit.php?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Ma.gnolia](http://ma.gnolia.com/bookmarklet/add?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Mister Wong](http://www.mister-wong.com/index.php?action=addurl&bm_url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&bm_description=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![MySpace](http://www.myspace.com/Modules/PostTo/Pages/?c=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&t=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![MyWeb](http://myweb.yahoo.com/myweb/save?t=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>&u=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/){kind=link}
![Netvouz](http://www.netvouz.com/action/submitBookmark?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>&popup=no){kind=link}
![oneview](http://www.oneview.com/quickadd/neu/addBookmark.jsf?URL=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![OnlyWire](http://www.onlywire.com/submit?u=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&t=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![PlugIM](http://www.plugim.com/submit?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Propeller](http://www.propeller.com/submit/?U=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&T=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Reddit](http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Segnalo](http://segnalo.com/post.html.php?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Simpy](http://www.simpy.com/simpy/LinkAdd.do?href=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Slashdot](http://slashdot.org/bookmark.pl?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Sphere](http://www.sphere.com/search?q=sphereit:http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Sphinn](http://sphinn.com/submit.php?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Spurl](http://www.spurl.net/spurl.php?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![StumbleUpon](http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![ThisNext](http://www.thisnext.com/pick/new/submit/sociable/?url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&name=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Twitter](http://twitter.com/home/?status=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>+http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/){kind=link}
![Webride](http://webride.org/discuss/split.php?uri=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Windows Live](https://favorites.live.com/quickadd.aspx?mkt=en-us&url=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&title=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Yahoo!](http://bookmarks.yahoo.com/toolbar/savebm?opener=tb&u=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/&t=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>){kind=link}
![Email This to a Friend](http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailFlare?loc=en_US&itemTitle=With money tight, lawyers may cut ethical corners <span class="dmcss_key_icon"><img alt="(access required)" src="/wp-content/themes/lwusa/images/lock.gif" border=0/></span>&uri=http://lawyersusaonline.com/blog/2009/12/17/with-money-tight-lawyers-may-cut-ethical-corners/){kind=link}
FEATURED PODCAST
Baby Boomer lawyers and retirement
Nelson Schwartz from The New York Times recently wrote an article titled, "Easing Out the Gray-Haired. Or Not.," spotlighting the fate of the Baby Boomer generation within law firms. Attorney and co-host Bob Ambrogi welcomes Attorney Valerie C. Samuels, a partner in the firm Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP and co-chair of the Employment Law Group, and Attorney Roy Ginsburg, to take a look at this generation of baby boomers within law firms, retirement, their fate within the firm, options upon retirement and what this means for law firms: big, small and solo.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
Click here to download the podcast.
Click here for the Podcast archive.
POST A COMMENT