Legal Ethics Blog
Insights on attorney discipline, professional responsibility, and legal ethics in our nation.
Flat Fees, Operating Accounts and Trouble at the Disciplinary Board
February 2, 2021
In a recent DBD Opinion suspending a lawyer for one year and one day for numerous Rule violations, the Board…When Morality Transcends the Law: Is the Death Penalty the Ultimate Test?
December 4, 2020
I have been writing this professional conduct column for over 10 years, with and without co-authors, discussing topics from the mundane…Calm Is Overrated: We Need to Take a Stand Now
October 23, 2020
On March 16, as we were confronting the reality of a pandemic and its potentially devastating effects, I authored a…ODC v. Sexual Harassing Attorney/ No. 74 DB 2019
September 28, 2020
On August 10th, 2020, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania suspended Philadelphia attorney M.B. for one year, based on a criminal…The Use of Stayed Suspensions in Disciplinary Proceedings is a Definite Thing
August 5, 2020
Blogs start with the best intentions but often move to the back burner and then fall off the stove altogether!…Pennsylvania Issues Protocols for Hearings in a Covid-19 World
July 27, 2020
The Disciplinary Board has issued protocols describing how it will conduct operations remotely in the COVID-19 era and potentially beyond…Pennsylvania Supreme Court Adopts New Disciplinary Rule Including Discrimination as Misconduct
June 25, 2020
On June 8, 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court approved adoption of Rule 8.4(g) broadening the definition of misconduct to include…Ethical Succession Planning for Solo Firms: Exit Stage Right
June 23, 2020
Three years ago, after over two decades of practicing in small firms, medium sized firms and big firms, I decided…Limited License For 2020 Law Grads
May 6, 2020
Very Big News from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania was posted on the The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania website this…Keep Calm and Carry On: Ethics in a Time of Stress
March 29, 2020
For many of us, our practices take us into the lives of our clients at times of great stress. Whether…
