Ethics

Law firms can’t be sanctioned for multiplying cases ‘vexatiously’ in federal court, 5th Circuit says

A provision of federal law that allows sanctions for multiplying legal proceedings “unreasonably and vexatiously” applies to lawyers but not their law firms, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Mar 14, 2023 12:46 PM CDT

State bar finds ‘shocking past culture of unethical and unacceptable behavior’ in its handling of Girardi complaints

Disbarred trial lawyer Tom Girardi’s efforts to buy relationships and exercise influence at the State Bar of California likely caused some ethics complaints against him to be improperly closed, according to an outside review released Friday.

Mar 13, 2023 9:33 AM CDT

Lawyer who asserted Trump ‘won in a landslide’ on national TV censured for stolen election claims

A senior legal adviser to then-President Donald Trump has agreed to a public censure while admitting that her false claims about election fraud violated lawyer ethics rules.

Mar 9, 2023 10:16 AM CST

Lawyer convicted for stealing over $26M gives up law license; money was spent on gambling, jets, ‘social companions’

A former managing partner convicted in 2018 for stealing more than $26 million from his law firm and closing business has given up his Georgia law license.

Mar 8, 2023 12:05 PM CST

Tweets saying demonstrators should be shot and MSNBC anchor’s home should be burned lead to ethics charges

A Los Angeles lawyer is facing ethics charges for Twitter posts calling for the shooting and summary execution of protesters following the 2020 death of George Floyd while in police custody.

Mar 8, 2023 11:09 AM CST

Using data, law prof finds many disciplined lawyers represent consumers—with no oversight

A new working paper claims that for attorneys with records of public discipline, many are sole practitioners who opened firms following lawyer regulation decisions.

Mar 8, 2023 9:05 AM CST

Law firm accused of 856 insurer misrepresentations is suspended from practice in federal district court

Houston-based law firm McClenny, Moseley & Associates has been suspended from practice in a Louisiana federal court because of a judge’s concerns about its purported representation of clients with claims related to Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Ida.

Mar 7, 2023 3:02 PM CST

First lawyer who advised Jan. 6 witness Cassidy Hutchinson should face ethics probe, group tells regulators

A group called Lawyers Defending American Democracy is asking ethics officials to investigate the lawyer who originally represented Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide who testified before the Jan. 6, 2021, committee about events regarding the U.S. Capitol attack.

Mar 6, 2023 3:51 PM CST

Fictional ABA Techshow hearing tackles hot-button issue on amending rules of professional conduct

Should states relax rules of professional conduct to address the access-to-justice crisis and make legal services more affordable? On Friday, a panel of experts took on that question during a fictional hearing at the second and final keynote at this year’s ABA Techshow at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Mar 3, 2023 1:46 PM CST

How can lawyers meet their ethical obligation to be competent in technology?

If 40 states have implemented an ethical duty of competence in technology, why aren’t lawyers completely technologically competent? That’s a question posed to the audience at the ABA Techshow on Thursday.

Mar 2, 2023 1:40 PM CST

Taylor English partner screamed at opposing counsel, called her a ‘worthless human,’ sanctions motion claims

Updated: A federal judge in North Carolina has determined that a Taylor English partner engaged in "unacceptable, deplorable" conduct in a courtroom confrontation with his opposing counsel.

Mar 2, 2023 11:55 AM CST

Dechert faces 3 UK trials, 2 US suits stemming from 1 former partner’s work

Dechert is “aggressively defending itself” in three upcoming trials in the United Kingdom and in two lawsuits in the United States that have one common thread: a connection to former U.K. partner Neil Gerrard.

Mar 1, 2023 4:42 PM CST

Choice-of-law questions for state ethics rules examined in new ABA opinion

Lawyers admitted to multiple jurisdictions may be subject to different ethical requirements in the different states in which they are licensed to practice law, according to a new ABA ethics opinion.

Mar 1, 2023 12:31 PM CST

Federal judge faces probe after he orders handcuffing of 13-year-old girl in gallery in ‘scared straight’ approach

A federal judge faces an ethics probe initiated by the judiciary after a transcript indicated that he ordered the handcuffing of a 13-year-old girl during a probation revocation hearing for her father. The allegations are against Judge Roger Benitez.

Mar 1, 2023 11:15 AM CST

Family law gave this lawyer some ideas about what clients really want

Jessica Bednarz has spent much of her career representing people, researching access-to-justice issues and using that knowledge to try to find better ways to deliver legal services. That includes using what’s known as “design thinking” for developing client service programs.

Feb 27, 2023 8:39 AM CST