Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I am a civil trial lawyer. I have a question about Rule 3.3 Candor to the Tribunal, which says that a lawyer shall not “knowingly” offer evidence that the lawyer knows to be false. On several
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June 2, 2025 Issue – Ex parte Contracts
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, A judge has had an important motion under advisement for 22 months. I fear he may have misplaced or forgotten about it and may need a prompt. My client is also quite impatient and does not…
May 15, 2025 Issue – Withdrawal and the Hot Potato Doctrine
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I have an opportunity to land a new corporate client that is very active in a number of practice areas (acquisitions, regulatory issues, litigation, etc.). This would be a game-changer for me and for our firm,…
May 1, 2025 Issue – Gifts for Referral
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, My good client Johnson recommended me to another prospect who has hired me for a major case. Can I properly give Johnson a nice gift certificate as a “thank you” for his recommendation?…
April 15, 2025 Issue – Obligation to Disclose Client Intention to Commit Fraud
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I am a tax lawyer with an accounting background. I practice in a smaller community and advise businesses on tax matters, as well as preparing tax returns for some of them. Today is the day that…
April 1, 2025 Issue – Relationship with Client Constituent
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I am a lawyer who represents businesses in corporate transactions. For the last few weeks, I have been going out with a law school classmate. Initially it was just as friends, but the last couple of…
March 17, 2025 Issue – Privileged Information within Company
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I am in-house counsel for a company, and field a steady stream of requests for legal advice from various business department heads. In looking at internal emails, I am finding that often the advice I provide…
March 3, 2025 Issue – Representing an Opposing Lawyer
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I am defending a huge piece of commercial litigation. I, and others in our firm, have been opposite to plaintiff’s counsel Jane Smith in a number of hard but well-fought cases and there is mutual respect.…
February 17, 2025 Issue – Duties Re Mis-Performing Staff
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I am mid-level partner at a firm with an active litigation practice. I use paralegals a fair amount for various tasks and have always had pretty good experiences with them, but I am not responsible for…
February 3, 2025 Issue – Joint Representation/Aggregate Settlement
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I represent co-defendants in a suit for misappropriation of trade secrets. The plaintiff has offered to settle for a total sum of $1 million. Although both defendants were involved, it appears from the evidence that the…