Basic Ethics Resources for Lawyers

• Publication year: 2003
• Pages: 65
• Citation: Vol. 32 No. 10 Pg. 65

32 Colo.Law. 65 Colorado Lawyer 2003.

2003, October, Pg. 65. Basic Ethics Resources For Lawyers

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65

Vol. 32, No. 10, Pg. 65

The Colorado Lawyer
October 2003
Vol. 32, No. 10 [Page 65]

Ethics for Colorado Lawyers

Basic Ethics Resources For Lawyers
by Susan E. Sanders

Susan E. Sanders, is a sole practitioner in Denver - (303) 394-4944 - former Denver magistrate, and former full-time judge pro-tem in Phoenix, Arizona. She also is a member of the CBA Ethics Committee

Sally Solo was scared that her ethical mistakes could jeopardize her law license, not to mention her clients. She adopted a cavalier attitude with Ned Newbie to mask her ignorance and concern. Ned has now joined the Acme, Best & Crown ("ABC") firm to work with Greta Greyhair, leaving his office-sharing situation with Sally and Lois A. Lone. Sally was sure the reason Ned left was that he realized she was unaware of several ethics issues he kept pointing out to her. Sally decided she had better get some ethics resources to keep on hand and to study

Putting pride aside, Sally called some of her lawyer friends to ask what ethics resources they used in their practices. By the time she was done, Sally had a list of organizations to contact, books to consult, and Internet sites to search which she was confident would help her stay out of trouble.

Sally knows what she needs to do to turn over a new leaf: keep up-to-date on the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct and, when questions come up, take the time to call the Colorado Bar Association ("CBA") Ethics Committee Hotline or ask for an informal opinion, access the CBA Ethics Committee website to search the rules and formal opinions for guidance, and research cases and secondary materials. With her handy list of resources, and other lawyers ready to help her, Sally can begin to meet her ethical and professional obligations. At least, she thinks, the following basic list is a good place to start.

ETHICS RESOURCES:

CBA Ethics Committee Hotline: (303) 860-1115 or, in-state only,

(800) 332-6736

Calls to the Hotline are answered by practicing Colorado attorneys who are members of the CBA Ethics Committee. The Ethics Committee website lists a few things they will not deal with, but these are easy enough to discern (such as, reporting someone else, asking about an already settled matter, or refusing to identify yourself). Committee members will spend approximately ten minutes per call (they will not do any research). The Hotline is fast, free of charge, and most callers find it helpful.

Opinions from the
CBA Ethics Committee

The CBA Ethics Committee issues informal or formal opinions for practicing attorneys who submit their questions (and all necessary supplementary documentation) to the address listed below. The Committee also...