Client Protection

Looking for practice advice on email discussion lists? Don’t forget client confidentiality responsibilities

Lawyers must be careful in revealing information about clients on an email discussion list group, even when seeking help in the representation, according to a new ABA ethics opinion.

May 8, 2024 10:02 AM CDT

Prosecutors blame disclosure of attorney-client texts on ‘cavalier legal representation’ by ‘Rust’ armorer’s lawyer

Updated: A lawyer representing an armorer accused in the movie set shooting death of a cinematographer has failed to win dismissal of charges against his client, despite the disclosure of texts protected by attorney-client privilege.

Feb 14, 2024 2:55 PM CST

Unprecedented Assignment: Defending Donald Trump in criminal court

In the past six weeks alone, Donald Trump’s lawyers argued in the Supreme Court over whether the Constitution bars him from running for president, lost an appeals court battle on presidential immunity and defended their client in a civil defamation trial in which Trump took the stand—all while reviewing evidence and submitting highly technical court motions involving classified documents.

Feb 14, 2024 11:16 AM CST

NAACP-trained nonlawyers may provide limited advice to tenants facing eviction, top state court says

The South Carolina Supreme Court is allowing the NAACP’s state conference to train nonlawyer volunteers to advise tenants as part of a three-year pilot program.

Feb 14, 2024 9:47 AM CST

Lawyers should take these precautions when using artificial intelligence, Florida ethics opinion says

Generative artificial intelligence—which can generate new content based on a prompt—has the potential to “dramatically improve the efficiency of a lawyer’s practice,” but it also can pose ethical concerns, according to a Florida Bar ethics opinion approved Jan. 19.

Jan 23, 2024 12:28 PM CST

Disbarred lawyer married to ‘Real Housewives’ star found competent to stand trial for alleged $15M embezzlement

Disbarred plaintiffs lawyer Tom Girardi has been found competent to stand trial in Los Angeles for allegedly stealing $15 million from clients.

Jan 4, 2024 2:24 PM CST

Response to fake-citations query implicates attorney-client privilege, Michael Cohen’s lawyer says

A federal judge who threatened to impose sanctions against former lawyer Michael Cohen’s attorney for apparently citing fake cases has agreed that the lawyer can file his response under seal—at least for now.

Dec 19, 2023 3:05 PM CST

Ex-lawyer Alex Murdaugh, already convicted of murder, pleads guilty to state charges for stealing from clients

Disbarred South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh pleaded guilty Friday to 22 state charges for stealing millions of dollars from personal injury clients, a deal that calls for a 27-year sentence.

Nov 20, 2023 12:25 PM CST

Lawyer reprimanded for feeding deposition answers to vulnerable client who had to be hospitalized afterward

A Massachusetts lawyer who said he whispered deposition answers to a client out of concern for her well-being has received a public reprimand.

Nov 16, 2023 3:11 PM CST

Lawyer suspended for charging inflated and fake fees to real estate clients; did everybody do it?

Updated: A New Jersey lawyer has been suspended after an audit found that she overcharged clients in real estate transactions by collecting fake fees or fee amounts that were higher than the actual expenses incurred.

Nov 13, 2023 9:49 AM CST

Lawyer pleads guilty in ‘Ponzi-type scheme’ that cost his clients up to $65M

A former San Antonio lawyer has pleaded to federal charges for persuading his clients to deposit funds with him and then using the money for his benefit.

Oct 10, 2023 3:20 PM CDT

Ex-lawyer Alex Murdaugh, serving time for murder, pleads guilty to stealing from clients

Disbarred South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh pleaded guilty Thursday to 22 federal charges for stealing millions of dollars from clients and the estate of his late housekeeper.

Sep 22, 2023 10:09 AM CDT

As California changes ethics rules, surveyed lawyers express concern about integrity of the profession

Lawyers who back ethics reform are most concerned about maintaining the integrity of the legal profession, according to a survey by Bloomberg Law.

Sep 22, 2023 8:27 AM CDT

Do this, not that, when preparing witnesses and during testimony, new ABA ethics opinion says

Lawyers have a duty to prepare and guide witnesses, but attorneys can’t coach a witness in a way that interferes with the integrity of the justice system and obstructs another party’s access to evidence, according to an ethics opinion released Wednesday by the ABA’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility.

Sep 6, 2023 10:44 AM CDT

Lawyer thought fake-client tactic was an acceptable strategy, she tells disciplinary commission

A North Carolina lawyer told a disciplinary commission that she thought that substituting a litigant for her criminal client during an arraignment was “an acceptable strategy.”

Aug 31, 2023 3:29 PM CDT