The number of cases involving intimate relations between attorneys and their clients reflects a growing problem that threatens not only the participating parties but also their colleagues and law firm partners.
Bar associations have reacted swiftly and severely to situations in which there was even a mere suggestion that an attorney exploited a client relationship, acted improperly or engaged in an intimate relationship with a client. For example, Pennsylvania recently enforced, for the first time, its rule against sexual relationships with clients. The sanction for violating the rule was a one-year law license suspension. (The court noted that the penalty would have been more severe if the attorney had not cooperated with the investigation.)
