Ethics corner: A word of caution when accepting credit card paymentsBy Michael J. DrabantTrusts and Estates, July 2014The ISBA recently issued a Professional Conduct Advisory Opinion which highlights some of the ethical implications of accepting credit cards as a means of paying attorney fees.
Ethics cornerBy John H. BrechinLocal Government Law, May 2014Two recent ISBA opinions address attorney misconduct and conflict of interest.
The “nothing new here” new PTO ethics rulesBy Lori M. HaymonIntellectual Property, May 2013Effective May 3, 2013, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has adopted new rules on professional ethics.
Ethical considerations in Of Counsel relationshipsBy David B. SosinSenior Lawyers, February 2013This article is intended to give the reader a basic understanding of the Of Counsel concept and how the ethical use of that term has evolved with respect to the formation and operations of law firms.
Real estate ethics cornerBy Michael J. RooneyReal Estate Law, June 2012In the current real estate market, foreclosure rescue schemes and scams and short-sales abound. Real estate lawyers do well to recognize when they are involved in a transaction that may take one or more “funny” turns that end up not being very humorous for the lawyer.
“The newlywed game”—Marriage fraud in immigration: Ethical guidanceBy Jesse HodierneInternational and Immigration Law, May 2012A discussion of marriage-based immigration, the federal laws curtailing and prohibiting marriage fraud, and recommended actions for attorneys who know or suspect their clients are committing marriage fraud in an attempt to circumvent the immigration laws of the United States.
Real estate ethics cornerBy Michael J. RooneyReal Estate Law, May 2012A simple residential leasehold transaction proved troublesome for one Illinois attorney and the Illinois Supreme Court suspended the attorney from the practice of law for 90 days.
Real estate ethics cornerBy Michael J. RooneyReal Estate Law, April 2012Do the Rules of Professional Conduct still govern the conduct of the attorney when he or she owns the owns the entity registered as a title insurance agent?
Silence is the new Golden RuleBy Michael D. WongYoung Lawyers Division, April 2012Under the recent change to Rule 1.6 of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, without informed consent an attorney may not disclose ANY information regarding a case or representation, even if that information is of public record.
Real estate ethics cornerBy Michael J. RooneyReal Estate Law, March 2012A discussion of the recent disciplinary matter of In re: David Milton Svec.
Real estate ethics cornerBy Michael J. RooneyReal Estate Law, February 2012Two recent disciplinary cases share a number of interesting features, though one arose in the Chicago area and one downstate in Lincoln.
Real estate ethics cornerBy Michael J. RooneyReal Estate Law, January 2012In both disciplinary matters discussed here, the attorney sent postcards to prospective clients indicating he would handle real estate transactions for a set fee without disclosing that he would also receive title insurance premiums and, in the earlier case, fees for surveys, both from companies in which he had an ownership interest. Moreover, his ownership interest in those entities was not disclosed.
Real estate ethics cornerBy Michael J. RooneyReal Estate Law, December 2011In re Shaveda Monique Scott involved a five-count complaint against an attorney for failing to disclose her financial interest stemming from her role as a registered title insurance agent when representing clients in six transactions and for violating the rules regarding conflicts of interest by improperly representing both buyers and seller in four of those matters.
Winning chances? Client relations, math, and ethicsBy Daniel KeganIntellectual Property, June 2011Clients and others often ask attorneys for the chances of winning a dispute. Attorneys often answer, but they should not. Mathematically the wrong question is asked; numerical answers likely violate legal ethics by incompetently providing incorrect and often deceptive information. A better response provides both valid case evaluation and client emotional support without fabricating false certainty.
Comments on Rule 1.13 from the Co-chair of the Joint Committee on Ethics 2000By Robert CreamerAdministrative Law, January 2010The October 2009 IBJ article made no specific mention of Comment [9] to new Rule 1.13 because of space limitations on what could be covered; and many other interesting and deserving topics were omitted as well.
Doing it on the squareBy J.A. SebastianGeneral Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, December 2009The date: October 2, 2009. In the Chicago area, an historical day: a day when some bemoaned the selection of Rio rather than Chicago for the 2016 Olympics. For others, it was the day to attend the annual endowed Rudolf G. Schade Lecture Series at Elmhurst College, created in 1984 as a class gift to sponsor an annual campus lecture, usually pertaining to history or ethics.
Ethics and Judicial IndependenceBy Hon. Thomas R. FitzgeraldBench and Bar, December 2009A speech given by Illinois Chief Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald at Elmhurst College on October 2, 2009
Ethics and Judicial IndependenceBy Hon. Thomas R. FitzgeraldGeneral Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, December 2009I would like to talk to you today about a topic that is important to me, as a judge, and important to all of you as citizens of this State and this Country.
Ethics and Judicial IndependenceBy Hon. Thomas R. FitzgeraldAdministrative Law, December 2009A speech given by Illinois Chief Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald at Elmhurst College on October 2, 2009
The ethics of fee sharing in tort law casesBy Albert E. DurkinTort Law, October 2009In the field of plaintiff personal injury litigation, a substantial amount of business is received on a referral basis. Tort practitioners commonly are referred cases from fellow lawyers who do not practice in that chosen field.
Committee on Government Lawyers presents ethics extravaganza!Government Lawyers, June 2009The ISBA’s Standing Committee on Government Lawyers has a worthwhile and lofty goal ... a goal of making ethics seminars for government lawyers informative, fun, and interesting.
Are criminal prosecutions for prevarication possible?By William A. PriceAdministrative Law, April 2009Political and governmental ethics debates in Illinois may have reached a new low this spring, with a member of the majority party defending a vote against a special election with a comment on the situation of the state’s junior U.S. Senator, currently challenged for less-than-forthcoming answers about how he obtained appointment, and for unsuccessful attempts to raise political funds in the course of discussions of same.
