Staying Within the Lines: Ethical Issues for Lawyers During a Crisis

"Desperate times call for desperate measures" is a saying attributed to the Greek physician Hippocrates, apparently derived from his Aphorism "For extreme diseases, extreme methods of cure, as to restriction, are most suitable." The crisis we face globally and the challenges we face as lawyers individually have their roots in an extreme disease that has paralyzed the world. The current pandemic has no match in recent history, and we as a society do not have a roadmap on how to handle this unprecedented crisis. 

As lawyers, however, we do have a GPS: the ABA Model Professional Rules of Conduct, and the Rules as adopted in the jurisdictions in which we practice. It is when times are tough that we have to make the most difficult decisions. It is during these times that we are tested. Abiding by the rules is essential to staying within the lines of appropriate professional conduct and getting through this crisis with our ethical obligations and our professionalism intact. 

This program, taught by Fran Griesing, the founder and managing member of Griesing Law, LLC, will help attorneys understand their ethical obligations in a crisis, including how to stay competitive in a rapidly changing legal landscape, appropriate supervision of junior lawyers and professional staff when working remotely, meeting deadlines and communicating effectively with clients, and why "Desperate times call for desperate measures" is not a principle to follow in a legal emergency.



Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and other guidelines that are implicated by the legal practice during a crisis
2. Review the changing status of government orders on practicing law
3. Discuss the duty to remain competitive amid the challenges of constantly evolving law and legal issues
4. Avoid conflicts of interest
5. Protect your colleagues from exclusion and bias
6. Maintain civility and respect for others