Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Core concepts
Legal ethics governs the duties of judges, prosecutors, and lawyers: independence, impartiality, confidentiality, competence, and fidelity to the client and the court. Know the rules on conflicts of interest, the duty to decline representation when a conflict exists, the prohibition on misleading the court, and the limits of advocacy. Understand the disciplinary regime and the consequences of breach.
Traps
Questions test whether a lawyer may act against a former client, disclose confidential information to prevent a crime, or accept a case beyond their competence. Distinguish the duty of zealous advocacy from the duty of candor: a lawyer may argue aggressively but may not present known false evidence. Watch the rule that confidentiality survives the end of the retainer.
Rule of thumb
Ask whose interest is at stake and whether disclosure is authorized. Worked example: a lawyer learns a client intends to commit a fraud; confidentiality generally yields to the duty to prevent serious harm, and the lawyer may withdraw and, where required, disclose.