Washington Ethics Bundle 081523

Is this program really about getting into bed with our clients? Of course….but I don’t mean sexual relationships. Well, not only sexual relationships. There are a bunch of ways that a lawyer can metaphorically get into bed with their client and all of those situations are governed by the conflicts rules in Rule 1.8. Whether it’s doing business with clients, getting a bequest from a client, or some other self-serving conflict, chances are there’s an ethical implication to doing so.

Stuart will discuss whether lawyers can accept cryptocurrencies for legal fees, Fee splitting with other lawyers, when people fight over trust account funds, and the problem of the flat fee.

Whether it’s fictional lawyers in film, real lawyers who represent celebrities, or lawyers who have themselves become celebrities, some of these characters have committed ethical violations. Let’s talk about what every lawyer can learn from the mistakes of these lawyers who represent some interesting people.

With corporate governance coming under the microscope, in house teams need to ensure they have a handle on their responsibilities to their company and as a leader in the organization. There is a balance between providing advice and mitigating risk. In addition, General Counsel in today's environment must deal with increasing scrutiny from not only the board, but also the media and government.

In just 10 years the case law around eDiscovery AI & Analytics has exploded. Over 100 published opinions specifically address TAR and Predictive Coding--evaluating complex and nuanced issues like defensibility, workflow design, protocol negotiation, and transparency obligations. In the meantime, dozens of state bar associations have imposed ethical obligations for lawyers to maintain technical competency, including within eDiscovery. Thomas C. Gricks III will lead an educational panel of experts covering the key legal issues around eDiscovery and technology.