Professionalism and ethics 
By:
Thomas Spahn
Published: January 20, 2012
Tags: legal ethics, professionalism
Most lawyers use the words “professional” and “ethical” as synonyms for some vaguely defined “good” lawyer behavior. However, the concepts are really quite different, and lawyers hoping to act “professionally” sometimes must examine the ethics rules for permission to do so.
Top news in legal ethics in review
By:
Correy Stephenson
Published: December 27, 2011
Tags: attorney advertising, blogging, cloud computing, ethics, ghostwriting, legal ethics, metadata, referrals, technology, Total Attorneys
News in legal ethics in 2011 ran the gamut from high-tech – can I friend the employee of an opposing party? – to more traditional challenges, like attorney advertising and judicial recusal.
ABA proposes change in firm ownership rules
Published: December 6, 2011
Tags: ABA, American Bar Association, law firm, law firm ownership, legal ethics, Rules of Professional Conduct
Last month the American Bar Association’s Ethics 20/20 Commission proposed changing the Rules of Professional Conduct to permit other service professionals, such as accountants, social workers and public relations professionals, to partner with attorneys to own up to 25 percent of a law firm.
The ethical pitfalls of social media
Published: November 14, 2011
Tags: 20 Things Lawyers Need to Know in 2012, legal ethics, social media
Social media plays an increasingly important role in marketing for many lawyers, yet some are still staying away due to fears of ethical missteps.
Discarded laptops, flash drives create ethical obligations
Published: November 14, 2011
Tags: 20 Things Lawyers Need to Know in 2012, client data, data security, electronics, legal ethics
A recent Florida Bar opinion advising that lawyers have an ethical duty to sanitize their storage devices has put a spotlight on how attorneys handle their discarded equipment.
Representing unpopular clients: What are the ethics?
By:
Thomas Spahn
Published: September 12, 2011
Tags: attorney-client relationship, legal ethics
Few lawyers actually know the ethical rules when it comes to clients who are unpopular or with whom the lawyer has deep disagreements.
ABA considers relaxing rules on legal business structures
Published: April 18, 2011
Tags: ABA, alternative fee arrangements, legal ethics, legal services
Lawyers and non-lawyers may be able to form law firms or businesses that provide non-legal services, in light of changes the ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20 is weighing.
Florida Bar investigates two attorneys accused of stealing clients
By:
Tony Ogden
Published: July 14, 2010
Tags: bar association, Florida, legal ethics
The Florida Bar filed a complaint with the state Supreme Court against William Henry Winters and Marc Edward Yonker, saying they should be disciplined for violating more than a dozen rules regulating the ethics of lawyers.
Date set for ethics hearing over legal website
By:
Sylvia Hsieh
Published: November 2, 2009
Tags: ABA model rule 7.2, Internet advertising, legal ethics
Connecticut will begin hearings on November 12 over an ethics complaint against five attorneys who participated in a legal website, totalbankruptcy.com
A 21st century duty for lawyers: monitor the electronic docket
By:
Correy Stephenson
Published: September 10, 2007
Tags: electronic docket, legal ethics
As court records go electronic, lawyers are being required to assume a whole new set of responsibilities – the latest of which is a 6th Circuit decision requiring them to monitor the electronic docket.
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