I am a young lawyer and my opponent has asked for an extension to respond to an outstanding motion. My client wants me to be very aggressive. Is there any ethical rule to give me guidance as to whether or not I should object to the extension of time request?
Professional courtesy is in short supply these days in the modern practice of law. It has almost become a sport to be mean spirited to the opposing lawyer or to attack the opposing lawyer’s character and reputation as part of litigation. Many lawyers take great pride in not granting extensions or in providing excuses that they would like to but their client has ordered them not to. As a result, it has become much less pleasant to practice law than perhaps 30 or 40 years ago. Litigation seems to assume that one must make the opposing lawyer’s life difficult.
