Attorneys are well aware that they are bound to act ethically and in accordance with their rules of professional conduct. However, the limits of their responsibilities do not always end there. Attorneys typically have reporting obligations with respect to the conduct of others. These obligations may be particularly complicated when attorneys supervise others in a law firm environment. In such cases, both the supervising attorney and the supervised attorney may have unique obligations and liabilities with respect to any potential ethical violations of the other.
Here are some tips for how both partners and associates in firms or partnerships can comply with their ethical duties to supervise others and disclose potentially risky behavior by others.
