10 Ethics Pitfalls. Legal experts give a primer on the most pressing professionalism issues out there for the modern lawyer.

• Author: David Hudson Jr.
• Pages: 52-61

How to avoid

10 common ethics pitfalls

BY DAVID L. HUDSON JR.

Do the

Right

Thing

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ABAJ J E-J Y E S APS AM

Lawyers are stewards of their clients’

most sensitive and personal infor-

mation. They serve as ofcers of the

court and are in positions of public

trust. But these high standards can lead to

steep falls, and a lawyer who doesn’t care-

fully mind ethics obligations can quickly run

afoul of the rules of professional responsi-

bility.

Most states require ethics training as part

of continuing legal education requirements.

But a quick scan of disciplinary records re-

veals lawyers behaving badly on a spectrum

of issues—from improper advertising to mis-

handling private information and everything

in between.

Whether intentionally outing ethics rules

or unwittingly succumbing to the many pit-

falls that can appear, lawyers regularly face

discipline for crossing the line. Being hauled

in front of a disciplinary board can cause

professional embarrassment, suspension of a

law license and even disbarment.

We asked legal ethics experts for a primer

on the most pressing and pernicious ethics

traps out there for the modern lawyer, along

with best practices to avoid problems on the

front end.

The lesson is to not only beware,

but be aware.

ABA JOURNAL | JUNE–JULY 2020

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ABAJ J E-J Y E S APS AM