Legal Ethics Forum

This blawg discusses recent court decisions and news stories related to legal ethics issues—lawyer advertising, attorney-client privilege, multijurisdictional practice—and follows news stories of allegations and trials related to lawyer or judicial misconduct.

Author: Law professor contributors: John S. Dzienkowski, University of Texas; Brad Wendel, Cornell University; John Steele, a lecturer at Santa Clara University; Andrew Perlman, Suffolk University; David McGowan, University of San Diego; Laura Appleman, Willamette College of Law, who also contributes to The Faculty Lounge; Steve Lubet, Northwestern University; Anita Bernstein, Brooklyn Law School; Don Burnett, University of Idaho Law School; Steve Berenson, Thomas Jefferson School of Law; Monroe H. Freedman, Hofstra University Law School; Sarah Cravens of the University of Akron; Robert Vischer of St. Thomas School of Law in St. Paul, Minn., who also contributes to Mirror of Justice and The Religiously Affiliated Law Schools; Alice Wooley of the University of Calgary; and David Hricik of Mercer University, who also edits Statutory Construction Blog and contributes to Legalethics.com.

Recent Posts from Legal Ethics Forum

More details on the biglaw associate arrested for insider trading
Details here. The prosecutors apparently have tape recorded phone calls implicating the accused.
When is moving a tortfeasor's assets a participation in fraud?
An Iowa farmer shot and killer his neighbor, and, in anticipation of law suits, the farmer quickly began to shift assets, hide assets, and engage in a massive shell game -- all with the help…
What Ever Happened to the Search for Truth?
There was argument yesterday (Thursday) in the Supreme Court in Pottawattamie County v. McGhee, in which two men who have served 25 years of life sentences are suing two prosecutors in federal court for violating…
Birther lawsuits
Last week George Conk posted an entry on his blog (here) with respect to the New Jersey attorney who has filed a lawsuit claiming that Barack Obama is a "usurper" because he was not born…
Clicks, Clients, and Controversy: The Ethics of Paying for Client Leads
Several states are asking whether a lawyer can pay a non-lawyer for each Internet-based client lead that the non-lawyer generates. Some state bar authorities, most notably Connecticut's, contend that such a payment is an unethical…
Blogging as grounds to oppose pro hac vice application?
The theory is that the blogging lawyers who seek pro hac admission are in violation of the trial publicity rule. (Hat tip to Ben Sheffner, at Copyrights & Campaigns)
Biglaw associate arrested in insider trading scandal
Story here. It's only allegations and charges at this point, but we will try to follow it closely. (For those of you who remember the Ilan Reich affair, in which Reich, a biglaw associate, pled…
Judge Posner on the modern economy for young lawyers
Jump to the 20th minute. If you're familiar with the recent work of Bill Henderson and others, none of this will surprise you, but I enjoyed hearing Judge Posner's distinctive spin.
New Media in the Courtroom: Northern California Federal Courts conference
Official site here. I'm there, and we've been encouraged to blog or tweet from the conference, in the federal building. (The security guards were a little surprised that we were allowed to bring electronic equipment…
Deputy swipes document from defense counsel
Amazing video. Stories here and here (with a nod to Reason blog). (If this doesn't get Monroe's blood boiling, I don't know what will.) At the subsequent hearing the deputy could not explain his conduct…