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Ethics Primer for New Attorneys: Navigating Common Ethical Dilemmas and Avoiding Missteps

This program qualifies for 60 minutes of ethics credit.

Recording of a 90-minute CLE video webinar

BARBRI Practice-Ready Webinar

Conducted on Monday, December 16, 2024

Recorded event now available

or call 1-800-926-7926

This CLE webinar will provide an overview of common ethical challenges new attorneys face as well as recent hot topics in the area of legal ethics. The panelist will use a scenario-based approach to identify common ethical issues and offer guidance on how to successfully navigate these dilemmas and avoid mistakes.

Description

Practicing law is a complex balancing act between providing sound professional judgment on the legal issues presented in a case and being a zealous advocate for the client while also staying on the right side of ethics rules. Ethical challenges are an inherent part of legal practice and new attorneys are at higher risk of making mistakes because they lack the experience and knowledge to identify and understand common issues and how to avoid them or address them when they occur.

Some of the most common ethical issues facing new attorneys include failing to communicate with clients, maintaining and protecting client confidentiality, missing deadlines, improperly contacting the opposing party or the court, mishandling client trust accounts, failing to adequately supervise law clerks and other support staff, and accepting meritless cases.

Another difficult situation for new attorneys is when they act on the advice or direction of a supervising attorney that may result in an ethics rule violation. New attorneys need to understand their ethical obligations and responsibilities under these circumstances and how to navigate any fallout from their actions.

Listen as our authoritative speaker explores fact patterns that commonly present ethics problems for new attorneys and provides practice tips for avoiding missteps as well as approaches to take when mistakes are made.

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Outline

  1. Overview: common ethical issues and traps new attorneys face
  2. Exploring fact patterns to identify and understand common ethical dilemmas and strategies to avoid them
  3. Responsibility of a new or subordinate lawyer who acts under the direction of a more senior lawyer in the firm
  4. Knowing when not to take a case or client and how to decline representation
  5. What to do if you make a mistake
  6. Recent hot topics in legal ethics to be aware of
  7. Key takeaways

Benefits

The panelist will address these and other key issues:

  • What are common ethical traps new attorneys face and how can they be avoided?
  • What should a new attorney do when they identify a potential ethics issue?
  • What steps should an attorney take if they realize they have made a mistake?
  • What are recent hot topics in legal ethics that warrant attention?

Faculty

Bovitz, Jennifer
Jennifer S. Bovitz
Shareholder
Bassford Remele

Ms. Bovitz is a shareholder and trial lawyer who defends professionals in litigation, regulatory, and disciplinary...  |  Read More

Access Anytime, Anywhere

Strafford will process CLE credit for one person on each recording. All formats include course handouts.

To find out which recorded format will provide the best CLE option, select your state:

CLE On-Demand Video

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