Professionalism and the Business of Law

• Author: Hon. Christopher C. Conner
• Pages: 2-6

Pretrial Practice & Discovery

American Bar Association Litigation Section

Spring 2024, Vol. 32 No. 1

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2

ARTICLES

Professionalism and the Business of Law

Hon. Christopher C. Conner

May 02, 2024

“Civility costs nothing and buys everything.”

—Mary Wortley Montagu

Shortly after I passed the bar exam in the fall of 1982, I met with two senior partners of my

new employer—a medium-sized private law practice—to discuss the firm’s rules on

professionalism. Looking back, I view this meeting as a very timely, basic introduction to

rules of civility in my nascent litigation practice. At the time, however, it was an eye-

opening lesson to the complexities of personal interaction in an ever-changing profession.

Seniority, Communications, and Billing

The partners emphasized civility and deference to seniority. They explained that an

attorney’s reputation is paramount—and that I should carefully protect my reputation and,

concomitantly, that of the firm by being honest, courteous, and professionally competent in

all interactions with opposing counsel and court personnel. If I crossed the line of civility

with opposing counsel, word of my misdeed would spread like a brush fire in the wind.

Similarly (and presciently, I might add), I was admonished that atsome point in my future

litigation practice, clerks in the prothonotary’s office may be critical to a filing deadline, so

treat them with the same respect given to counsel. If circumstances require an in-person

meeting with opposing counsel, the less-experienced lawyer (referencing me, of course)

should always offer to meet at the office of the more senior lawyer or otherwise defer to

the senior lawyer’s location preference.

Our discussion also included guidance on communications with the court. For example,

they advised me to reference an order as “the court’s order” or “your Honor’s order” and

conclude correspondence with “Respectfully submitted.” In court, always shake hands with

opposing counsel at the beginning and the end of every hearing, stand as soon as the judge