All lawyers in the State of Connecticut are subject to the same Rules of Professional Conduct. Like any other area of the law, there are complexities within legal ethics which evolve along with the practice of law itself. Unfortunately, the two are not always in sync. The Rules do not always keep pace with the rapid changes in technology, client needs, and social norms – all of which drive the evolution of legal practice.
Questions of ethical practice management come into play everyday during a lawyer’s career. The Ethics and Professional Responsibility attorneys at Sandak Hennessey & Greco keep themselves on the cutting edge of ethics developments, and thus provide knowledgeable responses to the entire spectrum of questions ranging from best practices to the most responsible specific course of action given a particular set of facts.
Typical questions commonly asked about lawyers’ obligations and duties focus on:
- Advertising
- Web site management
- Changing law firms
- Lateral hires
- Fee agreements
- Client disputes
- Trust Account management
- Methods to withdraw from a lawsuit or representation
- Client file destruction
- Technology-based privacy issues
When lawyers have questions about what they can do or what they should do, the Ethics and Professional Responsibility attorneys at Sandak Hennessey & Greco quickly assess the appropriate level of response required. In many cases, the question or issue at hand can be dispatched quite succinctly, while other, more complex matters call for deeper engagement. When lawyers are faced with deciding between two or more difficult options in the management of their firm, their clients or their clients’ money, we help them identify the Rules that apply and detail the choices available.
Lawyer advertising is governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct as well as the Advisory Opinions issued by Connecticut’s Statewide Grievance Committee. Advertising includes all media: print, television, radio, and internet. Understanding the Rules is important but the application of the Rules change as rapidly as today’s technology changes. Business conscious lawyers recognize the need for a law firm to keep pace with technology but it is equally important to ensure that the lawyer’s use of technology is compliant with the Rules. The Ethics and Professional Responsibility attorneys at Sandak Hennessey & Greco study and keep pace with developments in the realm of technology and ethics, and stand ready to provide reliable counsel.
