Ethics Lessons From HBO's Succession

HBO's hit series "Succession" follows a fictional media company led by a legendary patriarch. As the title suggests, the patriarch's children are angling to seize the throne and succeed their father as the company's CEO. In this presentation, Brent Turman, Partner at Bell Nunnally, tracks the power plays of the company's C-level executives and general counsel, explaining whether their on-screen actions comply with specific ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct (spoiler alert: most of the time, they don't.). Through the lens of this captivating series, Turman provides an entertaining way for attorneys to obtain ethics credit.

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct through the lens of HBO's hit series Succession
2. Break down examples of how characters from this show complied (or failed to comply) with the applicable ethical rules
3. Identify ethical concerns attorneys should consider in their everyday practice
4. Recognize the conduct of Waystar Royco's general counsel and the ethical duties she owes to her client, the company
5. Review Assistance Programs for various jurisdictions and the services they provide