Professional Responsibility Flashcards
When is a Lawyer Subject to Discipline?
- Prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of a protected characteristic.
- A lawyer also must not permit unlawful discrimination by any other lawyers, or nonlawyer employees in the law firm in relation to the firm’s operations.
- Must notify state bar of any criminal, civil, or admin action premised on the same disciplinary conduct.
Bounds of Representation
- May not violate a court order.
2. Must inform client of related conflicting tribal or federal law.
Diminished Capacity Client
Lawyer may take protective action if reasonably believes client cannot protect themselves from substantial harm.
Communication of Fee Agreement
If reasonably foreseeable that fee will exceed $1,000, then fee must be in writing (which must explain the basis or rate of the fee). However, this will not be required where:
- Client is a corporation
- Client says in writing doesn’t want a fee agreement
- Same as previously paid for legal services.
- Lawyer acted in emergency to protect clients rights.
- Impractical.
Fee Amount
Prohibits illegal or unconscionable fee.
Contingency Fees
Prohibited in criminal case and domestic relations cases where fee is contingent on the securing of divorce, alimony award, etc. Permitted in recovery of post judgment balances.
Property for Services
ABA: May accept, so long as it isn’t a proprietary interest in the cause of action. Subject to a conflict of interest analysis.
CA: Only the conflict of interests analysis.
Fees Paid in Advance
ABA: Allowed, but must refund unearned portion. Not required to refund a true retainer fee (meant to ensure lawyer availability).
CA: Same, but no non-refundable fees.
Dividing Legal Fees
CA: Allows referral fees. Client consent required. Must not increase client fee solely by reason of referral fee.
Mandatory Withdrawal
A lawyer must withdrawal from a representation if:
- the rep would result in a violation of the RPC or other law
- Lawyers physical or mental condition substantially impairs their representation of the client
- Discharged by the client; or
- CA SPECIFIC: Client action is solely for the purpose of harassing or maliciously injuring any person.
Permissive Withdrawal
- C persists in criminal or fraud action involving lawyer’s services
- C used L’s services to commit crime or fraud
- C fails to pay and has been reasonably warned
- Representation rendered unreasonably difficult by client
- ABA SPECIFIC: C insists on taking action L considers repugnant or fundamentally disagrees with
- CA SPECIFIC: C knowingly and freely assents to termination
- CA SPECIFIC: Rep likely to result in ethical or legal violation
- CA SPECIFIC: L condition makes it difficult to continue.
Attorney Client Privilege: Termination
CA: Terminates when clients estate is settled and rep is discharged.
Exceptions to Attorney Client Privilege
- Client seeks attorney’s aid to enable or aid anyone to commit a future crime or fraud.
- For communications outside the scope of duties of A/C relationship.
- Civil litigation between former joint rep parties.
- Situations related to competency of client re: will or transfer.
- CA SPECIFIC: When necessary to prevent a criminal act that lawyer REASONABLY believes is likely to result in a person’s substantial bodily injury or death.
Duty of Confidentiality
Broader than A/C privilege. Cannot reveal and must take affirmative steps to protect confidential information.
When Information may be Disclosed
- Client gives informed consent; or
- Impliedly authorized; or
- AN EXCEPTION IS APPLICABLE
Death or Bodily Harm Exception to Duty
Lawyer may be disclose confidential information to PREVENT a FUTURE CRIMINAL ACT, that is likely to result in death or substantial bodily harm. HOWEVER, Lawyer must”
- FIRST make a GOOD FAITH EFFORT to persuade the client not to commit or continue the criminal act; and
- As part of the foregoing, the Lawyer must INFORM the client of the lawyer’s ability or decision to reveal the information.
Financial Loss Exception
California has no exception for financial loss (i.e., cannot reveal confidential information to stop a financial crime).
To Collect Fee Exception
You can disclose information to collect a fee you are owed from said client.
Response to Court Order Exception
May reveal information to comply with court order or other law.
Legal Ethics Exception
California DOES NOT recognize an exception seeking confidential legal ethical advice.
Legal Ethics Exception
California DOES NOT recognize an exception seeking confidential legal ethical advice.
Conflicts Check
No California exception, except perhaps under impliedly authorized. Probably will not be tested.
Separation of Funds
All money a lawyer receives for the benefit of a client, or for the benefit of a third person to whom the lawyer owes a legal duty, must be placed into an applicable trust account. Lawyer must NEVER comingle business or personal money with trust account, except for the SOLE purpose of paying bank service charges.
Account must be located in California, unless client written instructions specify otherwise (must have substantial jurisdictional relationship).
Note: Flat fee may be placed into operating account, except that Client must be alerted that they can opt to have it placed into trust account instead and that client is entitled to a refund of any unearned amount.
Disputed Funds and Property
If L possesses property that at least two persons claim interest, L must keep disputed portion separate until resolution of the dispute. However L must promptly distribute the undisputed portion.
Imputation of Conflicts
When one lawyer cannot take on a matter because of a conflict of interest, the other lawyers in the firm are also barred from taking on that matter. Hence the term IMPUTED. Exceptions:
- When conflict is PERSONAL to the disqualified lawyer.
- When the conflict is based on disqualified prior rep or employment and is screened.
- Waived by the affected client(s).
Imputation of Conflicts
When one lawyer cannot take on a matter because of a conflict of interest, the other lawyers in the firm are also barred from taking on that matter. Hence the term IMPUTED. Exceptions:
- When conflict is PERSONAL to the disqualified lawyer.
- When the conflict is based on disqualified prior rep or employment and is screened.
- Waived by the affected client(s).
When Does a Conflict Exist?
- The rep of one C is directly adverse to another C who the L represents in the same or a separate matter.
- There is significant risk that the rep of the C will be materially limited by the L’s own interest or by a L’s responsibilities to another client, former client, or third person.
Can apply even where there is just opposed legal circumstances and L would potentially create precedent in case 1 that is adverse to the position in case 2.
Steps for Resolving a Current-Client Conflict
L may undertake a conflicted rep if:
- L reasonably believes she can competently and diligently do so;
- Not prohibited by law;
- Does NOT involve asserting a claim against one of the rep’d parties;
- Each C gives INFORMED WRITTEN CONSENT.
Written Disclosure Requirement for Lawyer Relationships
Following relationships ALWAYS require written disclosure to the C:
- L has a legal, business, financial, professional, or personal relationship with a PARTY OR WITNESS in the C’s matter.
- The L is an immediate family member or intimate of another party’s attorney in the C matter.
If one of the above would result in a material limitation, then the usual written consent is required.
Business Transactions With/Pecuniary Interest With Client
May not do so unless:
- Fair terms
- Terms/L’s role fully disclosed to the C
- C advised in writing that C should get independent advice; and
- C gives informed consent in a writing signed by C.
Does not apply to normal commerce with C.
May not use C information to C disadvantage.
Substantial Gifts from Clients
Lawyer must not:
- Solicit a substantial gift from a C
- Prepare an instrument on behalf of C wherein L gets a gift
Does not apply if C has been advised by an independent lawyer who provides a cert of independent review.
Financial Assistance to Client
L must not provide financial assistance to C in ALL CONTEXTS, not just litigation. Additional details:
- CA also prohibits L from ‘buying’ a C with promises to pay the potential debts of a C, but AFTER L is hired, the L may give a loan to C if C promises to repay.
- Further, with C’s consent, the L may pay debts of C from funds L collects for C, IF the L has the C’s consent.
- Lawyer MAY advance court costs and the repayment MAY be contingent on the outcome of the case.
- If C is indigent the L may pay the costs and expenses associated with promoting or protecting client’s interests NOT JUST LITIGATION.
Aggregate Settlement Agreements
L must not participate in the making of aggregate settlement agreements unless:
- L discloses to EACH C the existence and nature of everything involved; and
- Each C gives informed consent signed by C.
Compensation from someone other than C
L may not accept compensation for legal services from someone other than C without:
- Informed WRITTEN consent;
- No interference of L’s professional judgment; and
- Information relating to the representation of the client remains confidential. written consent from the client. Exceptions:
Disclosure and consent not required where:
- Authorized by court order;
- Services rendered on behalf of public agency or non-profit
- Emergency situations
Settling Malpractice Claim
May not settle with former or unrepresented party without:
- Advising party in writing that IC is desirable; and
- Giving that party a reasonable chance to consult with IC.