The late Chief Justice Harold Clarke of the Georgia Supreme Court explained the distinction between ethics and professionalism: “Ethics is a minimum standard which is required of all lawyers while professionalism is a higher standard expected of all lawyers.” In recent years, the practice of law has fallen down the list of respected and trusted professions. Some of this decline is due to public perception via television shows or movies showing a “slick” attorney, but some of it is self-inflicted.
The reputation of attorneys is important not only to restore the esteem of the profession but also because attorneys can be unpopular parties to litigation. This perception of attorneys can negatively impact a jury’s preconceived notions when hearing a legal malpractice case.
