Legal Ethics

Date: 2024

ISBN: 978-1-9256310-4-3

Format: A4, 2-page, Laminated Card

Description

The aim of this Student Guide Card is to provide students with an outline of the basic concepts and principles of Ethics. This title focuses on the conduct of solicitors in New South Wales and Victoria as regulated under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules 2015 and the common law. In particular, the topics discussed in this title include: (i) background to legal ethics; (ii) fundamental duties of solicitors; (iii) paramount duty to the court; (iv) other fundamental ethical duties; (v) dishonest and disreputable conduct; (vi) undertakings; (vii) relations with clients; (viii) communication of advice; (ix) client instructions; (x) confidentiality; (xi) conflicts concerning former clients; (xii) conflict of duties concerning current clients; (xiii) conflict concerning a solicitor’s own interest; (xiv) client documents; (xv) lien over essential documents; (xvi) charging for document storage; (xvii) advocacy and litigation; (xviii) independence – avoidance of personal bias; (xix) formality before the court; (xx) frankness in court; (xxi) delinquent or guilty clients; (xxii) communication with opponents; (xxiii) opposition access to witnesses; (xxiv) public comment during proceedings; (xxv) relations with other persons; (xxvi) unfounded allegations; and (xxvii) communication with another solicitor’s client.