Professional Responsibility Flashcards
Offers that must be communicated to client
- Settlement offers (absent prior agmt)
2. Plea bargains
Grounds for mandatory withdrawal
- Violation of PR rules
- Harassment
- Atty impairment
- Discharge
Payment when fired
- Atty deserves payment unless fired for cause
Permissive withdrawal
- Reasonable believe that C is pursuing fraud/crime
- Services were used in C’s fraud/crime
- C’s action is repugnant
- Unreasonable burden (bad deal not enuf)
- C fails to pay
- Good cause
Atty lien
You can withhold C’s property if you are owed a fee –> but can’t harm C
Reasonable rate factors
- Time
- Novelty
- Amount in controversy
- Nature of relationship
- Precluding other employment
When are fee agmts required to be in writing
- Marital matters
2. Fees greater than 3K
No contingent fees in . . .
domestic matters and criminal cases
Biz tranz and taking a security interest in C property
- Writing
- Fair and reasonable
- Advice C in writing re: outside counsel
- C signs w/ informed consent
Confidentiality includes:
- A-C privilege
- Embarrassing or detrimental
- Requested to be confidential
Waivable conflicts
- Informed consent in writing
- A must reasonably believe that representation will not be adversely affected
- All affected Cs must waive
Special conflicts
- Related lawyers can’t oppose one another
- No sex in domestic rel matters or w/ control group
- Ls can’t be Ws
Former Cs irrebuttable presumption of conflict
- related to prior matter?
- Could A learn valuable info?
- Info useful in current litigation?
If YES to each —> NO GO
Imputed disqualification
Cootie rule generally governs unless:
- informed consent in writing
- Conflict is personal in nature (sex)
Limit malpractice?
VOID
Real time solicitation
Direct contact to solicit biz is prohibited but volunteer OK
Squeal rule
actual K is required