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. Legal ethics

Here today, gone tomorrow. But also there tomorrow.

So, tomorrow, I am speaking as part of a seminar put on by the Solo and Small Firm section of the Memphis Bar Association focusing on aspects of buying or selling a law practice.  I’ll be doing the second hour — “What to Do When (not) Everything Must Go? The Ethics of Buying or Selling a […]

Categories
. Legal ethics

Shameless self promotion – 2016 Ethics Roadshow update

Big news … well, the size of the news may be subject to differing opinions, but news. Believe it or not, this year will be the 12th year that I have had the opportunity to do the Ethics Roadshow for lawyers throughout Tennessee.  Since this is my 12th go round at doing three hours of […]

Categories
Legal ethics

Recipe for a blogpost in a pinch – two parts shameless self promotion; one part substance

I’m fortunate enough this week to be in Austin, Texas in order to share a stage with the wonderfully-talented Lynda Shely on Friday to talk for an hour on ethics at the DRI Employment and Labor Law seminar.  Working off of a hypothetical that has a “cribbed” from the headlines if not a “ripped” from […]

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. Legal ethics

Stress, drinks, and folderol

Over the last several months there have been various iterations of stories and reports making the rounds about the susceptibility of our profession to depression and substance abuse, reports of 1 in 5 lawyers being problem drinkers, etc.  There are also always folks out there writing variations of pieces about the problems that are created […]

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. Legal ethics

Today – Ethical Issues When Changing Law Firms.

There probably has been news this week about a set of departures of lawyers from one prominent firm to another or efforts that firms are taking to disincentivize their lawyers from taking their clients and moving on to a new destinaton.  As I indicated on Monday, I’m not actually around at the moment so this […]

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. Legal ethics

Digital assets and ethical issues – good news from the Tennessee legislature

Last week the Chattanooga Estate Planning Council was kind enough to have me come to speak to them about ethical issues arising from the uncertain world of the law regarding digital assets.  They were gracious hosts and, to the extent there were important ethics issues to really discuss, we managed to cover that most, if […]

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. Legal ethics

Rambling and bordering on incoherent is no way to do anything much less make a constitutional challenge.

I have made reference in the past on this blog about the problems that can come from the fact that Tennessee is one of a very few states that still use the “preponderance of the evidence” standard in disciplinary proceedings against lawyers.  Fewer than a dozen jurisdictions including Tennessee still use that standard.  Around forty U.S. […]

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. Legal ethics

Bad ethics opinion or the worst ethics opinion? – Ohio 2015-2 edition

Let’s play a little game called:  Bad ethics opinion or the worst ethics opinion? Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Ohio Board of Professional Conduct issued Opinion 2015-2 about whether/how a lawyer presenting at a legal seminar can distribute brochures to prospective clients and whether the lawyer can answer legal questions posed by the […]

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. Legal ethics

South Carolina adopts first of its kind* rule on cognitive impairment.

My paternal grandfather succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease.  As someone who makes a living (such as it is) using his mind (and is pretty certain that he could not feed his family if forced to use his hands for a living), the loss of my mental faculties is one of my greatest fears.  In that regard, […]

Categories
. Legal ethics

2015 Ethics Roadshow = The Answers to Life, the Universe & the Ethics Rules

I am excited to formally announce that I will be doing the Ethics Roadshow for the Tennessee Bar Association again in 2015.  I am also really excited about this year’s theme and the prospect of putting together an entire 3-hour presentation that offers up answers to actual questions on the minds of those in the […]