Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I have a delicate question. I have always had a good relationship with my in-house contact for a long standing corporate client, but recently it’s taken a turn – a mutual attraction has arisen. I find
Dear Ethics Lawyer
Latest from Dear Ethics Lawyer - Page 8
November 1, 2023 Issue – Hiring Non-Lawyers
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I have a hiring question that I don’t think is covered by the rules. We want to hire a new LAA, and I’m talking to one at another law firm. I have no way of knowing…
October 16, 2023 Issue – Evolution of Attorney Client Relationship
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I just returned from our firm retreat, where after a time in the hospitality room, my partner and I had a philosophical discussion about whether as a profession lawyers have eroded their usefulness to clients (and…
October 2, 2023 Issue – Law-Related Businesses
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, It is hard to make money practicing law, especially with the darn Model Rules always getting in the way: conflicts, multi-jurisdictional practice issues, etc. But, I’ve got an idea. We’ve got some finance/computer whizzes who’ve worked…
September 15, 2023 Issue – Hiring Attorney from Adverse Firm
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, We want to hire a terrific associate attorney, but that attorney currently works for a law firm that is on the opposite side of a still-pending case from our firm. We do not believe that the…
September 1, 2023 Issue – Representation Adverse to Former Pitch Prospect
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, Another lawyer from our firm and I made a pitch to represent company A, which our firm had not previously represented, in a new matter. We discussed with A the strategy that we would employ if…
August 15, 2023 Issue – Representation of Another Law Firm
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I have a good friend who is a lawyer at a small firm. Unfortunately, she recently has become the subject of a malpractice claim by a former client. She’s told me a little about it, and…
August 1, 2023 Issue – Lawyer Settlement of Client Claim
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, A well-meaning but less competent friend of mine discovered that he has blown a statute of limitations for a client who happens to be his good friend. He feels terrible about this, and wants to make…
July 18, 2023 Issue – Joint Representation of Corporate Constituents
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I am in-house counsel for a corporation dealing primarily with Mr. P, who is president and a substantial shareholder. Mr. P has asked me to prepare a legal analysis that would lay out the tax ramifications…
July 3, 2023 Issue – Third-Party Witnesses
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I represent a client in litigation during discovery. May I tell an unrepresented third-party witness that they are not obligated to speak to opposing counsel about the matter? May I ask our client to reach out…