Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I know that in the past you have answered questions about so-called “positional conflicts,” when a lawyer or the lawyer’s firm argues opposing legal arguments for different current clients at the same time, and the limited
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August 17, 2026 Issue – Conflict of In-House Lawyer with Former Employer
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I am an in-house lawyer for a utility company, part of a six-person law department. For many years, I worked for a smaller utility company in another state before being recruited to my current employer/client. At…
August 3, 2026 Issue – Attorney Bio Descriptors
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I wish I had a pivotal trial practice question to ask you relating to some huge and important case, but alas what I have for you is a mundane question about bios and practice descriptions. Together…
July 15, 2026 – Ethics of Settlement Negotiation
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I am sending this to you from my hotel after day one of a two-day mediation. I am representing a business (Seller) that sold an industrial facility to another business (Buyer). In the subsequent lawsuit, Buyer…
July 1, 2026 Issue – Material Limitation Conflict Based on Client Dislike
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I am a mid-level partner in a law firm. I have struggled to develop business until recently when I received a call from a law school classmate who recently became head of litigation at a major…
June 15, 2026 Issue – Lawyer’s Duty to Inform Judge of Basis for Possible Recusal
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I am counsel in a case involving a web of corporate parties on each side. I now have information that our judge’s adult children own a substantial interest in a two of the parties. I do…
June 1, 2026 Issue – Client with Decision-Making Limitations
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I have represented an individual entrepreneur in various business matters for the past 20 years. She has always been capable, with clear ability to receive and apply my advice and quickly make what I have believed…
May 15, 2026 Issue – Reporting Lawyer Who Violates the Rules
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I have a question about the duty to report professional misconduct. I have learned that a lawyer (Bill) in our firm accidentally copied a lawyer from another firm with an email intended for a client, discussing…
May 1, 2026 Issue – Ethics of Witness Preparation
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I just took yet another deposition in which the otherwise successful, intelligent businessperson being deposed appeared to have the memory of an old Commodore 64—she said “I don’t know” or “I don’t remember” to just about…
April 15, 2026 Issue – Potential Waiver of Multiple Bidder Conflict
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I am a banking lawyer who frequently handles acquisitions of banks or branches of banks. Recently, a family-owned bank group in our region has quietly let it be known that it would entertain offers to sell.…