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Guidelines for Professional Conduct
Attorneys who engage in litigation should strive for prompt,
efficient, ethical, fair and just disposition of litigation. In
fulfilling this obligation the lawyer should adhere to the
standards of practice as set out below.
1. In fulfilling his or her primary duty to the client, a lawyer
must be ever conscious of the broader duty to the judicial system
that serves both attorney and client.
2. A lawyer owes to the judiciary, candor, diligence and utmost
respect.
3. A lawyer owes, to opposing counsel, a duty of courtesy and
cooperation, the observation of which is necessary for the
efficient administration of our system of justice and the respect
of the public it serves.
4. A lawyer unquestionably owes, to the administration of justice,
the fundamental duties of personal dignity and professional
integrity.
5. Lawyers should treat each other, the opposing party, the court,
and members of the court staff with courtesy and civility and
conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times.
6. A client has no right to demand that counsel abuse the opposite
party or indulge in offensive conduct. A lawyer shall always treat
adverse witnesses and suitors with fairness and due
consideration.
7. In adversary proceedings, clients are litigants and though ill
feeling may exist between clients, such ill feeling should not
influence a lawyer's conduct, attitude or demeanor towards opposing
lawyers.
8. A lawyer should not use any form of discovery, or the
scheduling of discovery, as a means of harassing opposing counsel
or counsel's client.
9. Lawyers will be punctual in communications with others and in
honoring scheduled appearances, and will recognize that negligence
and tardiness are demeaning to the lawyer and to the judicial
system.
10. If a fellow member of the Bar makes a just request for
cooperation, or seeks scheduling accommodation, a lawyer will not
arbitrarily or unreasonably withhold consent.
11. Effective advocacy does not require antagonistic or obnoxious
behavior and members of the Bar will adhere to the higher standard
of conduct which judges, lawyers, clients, and the public may
rightfully expect.
PDF of the Guidelines for Professional Conduct