From Our Readers

• Jurisdiction: Colorado,United States
• Citation: Vol. 12 No. 1991 Pg. 2501
• Pages: 2501
• Publication year: 1991

20 Colo.Law. 2501 Colorado Lawyer 1991.

1991, December, Pg. 2501. From Our Readers

From Our Readers

REGARDING LAWYER ANNOUNCEMENT

Dear Editor:

I suggest you review the article on professionalism in the June 1991 edition of The Colorado Lawyer, the first letter to the editor in the October 1991 edition [page 2080] and finally the lawyer's announcement at page 2100 in the bottom right corner from the law firm of Powers & Phillips, PC. If the editors knowingly printed the announcement from Powers & Phillips, then they have shown poor taste and bad judgment. If they unknowingly permitted the announcement to appear, then they are incompetent.

This tasteless announcement, in an apparent attempt to be humorous, does nothing but denigrate our profession. Its publication is inconsistent with the professional standards usually manifest in The Colorado Lawyer.

James R. Clifton, Denver

Dear Editor:

I am writing to express my distaste in the announcement of Powers & Phillips, PC., published on page 2100 of the October 1991 edition of The Colorado Lawyer. ...

I can only imagine that the attorneys of Powers & Phillips, PC. were trying to be funny; however, not only do I not find this announcement humorous, I think it is off-color and degrading to the attorneys of Powers & Phillips and to the profession as a whole. Lawyers have a poor enough public image without their colleagues characterizing themselves as "Bitches" or advertising their emphasis in "Damn Shaky Deals."

Canon 9 of the Model Code of Professional Responsibility states that "A Lawyer Should Avoid Even the Appearance of Professional Impropriety." Ethical Consideration ("EC") 9-1 entrusts in each individual attorney the duty to "promote public confidence in our system and in the legal profession;... to conduct himself so as to reflect credit on the legal profession and to inspire the confidence, respect and trust of his clients and of the public; and to strive to avoid not only professional impropriety but also the appearance of impropriety." In my opinion, the announcement of Powers & Phillips, PC. violates Canon 9 and repudiates each of the goals set forth in EC 9-1,9-2 and 9-6.

I am disheartened if not disgusted with Powers & Phillips, P.C.'s lack of judgment, and I am very disappointed in The Colorado Lawyer for publishing their announcement. The Colorado Lawyer may be published primarily for attorneys, but laymen also read and advertise in The...