Members of the legal profession in every state are bound by a code of professional conduct. While each state’s rules are unique, most are based upon the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, first adopted in 1983 and amended in 2002. These rules govern the conduct of lawyers as members of the legal profession, representatives of clients, officers of the courts and as public citizens having special responsibilities for the quality of justice.
The legal profession is largely self-governing, and violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct can have serious adverse consequences for individual lawyers and their law firms – in terms of professional licensure and discipline as well as civil and criminal liability. Bailey Kennedy has extensive knowledge and experience in this area. We have represented clients in all types of professional responsibility matters, including:
- Bar admissions/character and fitness
- Reinstatement
- Discipline-defense
- Unauthorized practice
- Advertising
- Fee disputes
- Disqualification
- Sanctions
- Malpractice – plaintiff and defense
- Discipline expert testimony – prosecution and defense
- Malpractice expert testimony – plaintiff and defense