Ethics Blawg
Random musings in the world of legal ethics. Enjoy!
Everything You Wanted to Know About Handling Legal Fees in Tennessee (But Were Afraid to Ask Ethics Counsel)
Money. Get back. I’m alright, Jack. Keep your hands off of my stack. -Roger Waters—Pink Floyd-Tennessee is pretty wide open when it comes to structuring legal fees for the representation of a...
You Know What They Say About People Who Choose to Represent Themselves (It Applies to Lawyers Too)
Lawyers are the only persons in whom ignorance of the law is not punished.-Jeremy Bentham- The ABA recently issued a formal ethics opinion (Formal Opinion 502) which I discussed briefly during an...
Clearing the Last Hurdle: Character & Fitness Examinations in Tennessee
There is no better test of character than when you’re tossed into crisis.That’s when we see one’s true colors shine through.-Tess Gerritsen- Admission to the practice of law in Tennessee is...
The Road to Redemption: Hurdles Face Recovering Lawyers Who Seek Reinstatement of Their Law License
The best thing about the future is it comes one day at a time. -Abraham Lincoln- Lawyers are human. Let me say it again. Lawyers . . . are . . . human. They are subject to all the entrapments of the...
What? You Can’t Be Serious! No . . . You Don’t Have to Report Your Prospective Client Who Consulted With You About Their Professional Conduct.
Don’t gobblefunk around with words.-Roald Dahl, The BFG- As lawyers, we live for certainty and struggle with ambiguity. Self-regulation of the legal profession is important and is designed to...
Ethical Obligations of Local Counsel in Pro Hac Vice Representation
Am I my brother’s keeper?-Cain- Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 19 sets forth all the obligations for an out-of-state lawyer who wishes to appear in a Tennessee court or administrative proceeding....
RPC 4.4: Respect for the Rights of Third Persons
It takes no compromising to give people their rights. It takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no survey to remove repressions.-Harvey Milk- Prosecutors have very broad powers when it...
RPC 6.1: Pro Bono Publico Service
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.-Mahatma Ghandi- I have a mission of service. It’s always been there and, frankly, I’m not really sure where it came from....