On September 12, 2003, the Standing Committee on Government Lawyers, in conjunction with the Government Bar Association, sponsored a continuing legal education program in Springfield, produced by and for government lawyers, entitled “Ethical Considerations in Public Sector Law.” The program consisted of five scenarios, acted out by panelists, and depicted some of the ethical issues confronted by public sector attorneys. Each skit was followed by a discussion of the ethical dilemma(s) posed by the conduct of government workers, such as “Paul Politico,” “Wanda Worcsalot,” “Mark DeCode,” and “Sam Gumshoe,” and the application of the Rules of Professional Conduct to the various fact situations. Committee members Chuck Gunnarson, Kate Kelly, Paul Logli, Lynn Patton, Cynthia Ervin, and Lee Ann Schoeffel, energetically portrayed these roles, and other equally challenging parts. The ensuing discussions were led by Jim Grogan, Chief Counsel of the ARDC, who prompted the players as well as the audience to explore the ethical problems posed when, for example, a supervisor is more focused on the political realities than the legal arguments raised by a staff attorney.

The program was a reprisal of the same program held in Chicago on September 19, 2002, which also achieved rave reviews. More than 66 government attorneys attended this year’s presentation of the program.