Section Newsletters

Articles on Ethics

Legal Ethics: Obligations and Traps for the Transactional Real Estate Lawyer By Michael J. Rooney Real Estate Law, July 2024 Summaries of cases that highlight potential professional conduct risks that can be dangerously easy to ignore.
Regarding Litigants and Facebook By Gary L. Schlesinger Civil Practice and Procedure, July 2020 A look at the issues that arise when judges have litigants or lawyers who appear before them as friends on Facebook.
1 comment (Most recent July 21, 2020)
Reflections on Ethics, Morality, and Codes of Personal Conduct By J.D. Jordan & Judge Michael S. Jordan, (ret.) Alternative Dispute Resolution, April 2020 A reflection on morals and ethics.
Reflections on Ethics, Morality, and Codes of Personal Conduct By J.D. Jordan & Judge Michael S. Jordan, (ret.) Bench and Bar, March 2020 A reflection on morals and ethics.
Ethics corner By Jennifer Bunker Skerston & Colleen L. Sahlas Trusts and Estates, May 2019 A note from co-editors Jennifer Bunker Skerston and Colleen Sahlas about the newsletter's ethics column.
Creating an ethical and professional practice via office support staff By Sarah Taylor Family Law, January 2019 One way to create and maintain an ethical and professional law firm is to properly train and supervise office support staff and create a positive working environment for them.
How to navigate conflicts between demands for confidentiality of discovery and settlement and indemnification: Your duty to your client and the law By Larry E. Coben Tort Law, December 2018 While we are often very cognizant of our legal responsibilities and the substantive arguments for and against confidentiality in discovery and settlement agreements, the ethical ramifications are lesser known.
Ethics Corner: Ethical issues in Illinois estate planning and trust/estate administration By Richard W. Kuhn Trusts and Estates, November 2018 An analysis of how Illinois Supreme Court Rules 1.15, 1.18, 3.3, 5.3, and 5.5 impact the practice of trusts and estates law.
Ethics Corner: Ethical issues in Illinois estate planning and trust/estate administration By Richard W. Kuhn Trusts and Estates, October 2018 An analysis of how Illinois Supreme Court Rule 1.14 impacts the practice of trusts and estates law.
Ethics Corner: Ethical issues in Illinois estate planning and trust/estate administration By Richard W. Kuhn Trusts and Estates, September 2018 An analysis of how Illinois Supreme Court Rules 1.8 and 1.9 impact the practice of trusts and estates law.
Ethics Corner: Ethical issues in Illinois estate planning and trust/estate administration By Richard W. Kuhn Trusts and Estates, August 2018 An analysis of how Illinois Supreme Court Rule 1.7 impacts the practice of trusts and estates law.
How to navigate conflicts between demands for confidentiality of discovery and settlement and indemnification—your duty to your client and the law By Larry E. Coben Civil Practice and Procedure, July 2018 While attorneys are often very cognizant of legal responsibilities and the substantive arguments for and against confidentiality in discovery and settlement agreements, the ethical ramifications are lesser known.
Ethics Corner: Ethical issues in Illinois estate planning and trust/estate administration By Richard W. Kuhn Trusts and Estates, June 2018 An analysis of how Illinois Supreme Court Rules 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5 impact the practice of trusts and estates law. 
Ethics Corner: Ethical issues in Illinois estate planning and trust/estate administration By Richard W. Kuhn Trusts and Estates, May 2018 An analysis of how Illinois Supreme Court Rule 1.2, Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority Between Client and Lawyer, impacts the practice of trusts and estates law. 
Ethics in law and mediation By Thomas Semanic Alternative Dispute Resolution, May 2018 When deciding on a a career path, it is important to look at the ethical dilemmas you are likely to face at some point in that profession.
Ethics Corner: Ethical issues in Illinois estate planning and trust/estate administration By Richard W. Kuhn Trusts and Estates, April 2018 An analysis of how Illinois Supreme Court Rule 1.1: Competence impacts the practice of trusts and estates law. 
1 comment (Most recent May 3, 2018)
Lawyers may not secretly track sent emails, says ISBA opinion By Mark C. Palmer Legal Technology, Standing Committee on, April 2018 A recent Professional Conduct Advisory Opinion from the ISBA joined at least three other jurisdictions in concluding that the practice of using hidden email tracking software would be unethical for a variety of reasons.
A lesson in the ethics of social media By Deane B. Brown Bench and Bar, April 2018 Social media creates new ethical concerns for attorneys and judges, yet there is little case law to provide guidance on appropriate usage. 
Are you acting unethically by failing to screen for domestic violence? By Christine Hunt Young Lawyers Division, February 2018 It is an attorney’s ethical duty to both provide competent legal representation and to be an advisor to their clients. Screening for domestic violence only takes a few minutes, but is essential to successful and ethical representation.
1 comment (Most recent February 21, 2018)
E-mail: Why can’t I keep my free account? By Carl R. Draper General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, February 2018 We have ethical obligations now to be competent at use of technology, and free e-mail has far fewer expectations of privacy and protection from the service provider than paid subscriptions.
ABA considers modifying model rules on attorney advertising By Edward Casmere Bench and Bar, January 2018 The rules controlling how lawyers communicate with the public may be in for an overhaul.
Stay or go? Ethical public service to elected leadership By Peter J. Orlowicz Government Lawyers, December 2017 What happens when the way we are directed to carry out our duties seems inconsistent with the public trust and public interest we are charged with maintaining?
Social media and judicial ethics By Hon. Steve Pacey, (Ret). Bench and Bar, October 2017 A presence on social media poses potential disciplinary hazards for attorneys and perhaps more so for attorneys who are judges.
2 comments (Most recent October 17, 2017)
Convenience, speed and ethics By Michael J. Maslanka Real Estate Law, July 2016 What happens if you mistakenly click 'reply all' and include your opposing attorney and his client on your email correspondence?
1 comment (Most recent July 12, 2016)
Beware the pitfall: Avoiding ethical lapses in client intake By Kyle Stevens Young Lawyers Division, June 2016 A discussion of some of the ethical issues regarding client retention and non-engagement letters.
Ehics corner: Estate planning attorneys should not ignore their own mortality By Michael J. Drabant Trusts and Estates, September 2015 Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756 now requires that in each lawyer’s annual registration, he or she must disclose whether there is a written succession plan in place for their firm.
7th Circuit speaks on ethics By Michael J. Maslanka Real Estate Law, August 2015 Takeaways from Peterson v. Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP of interest to transactions attorneys.
Ethics considerations for Illinois attorneys serving on non-profit boards By Dan Ebner Law Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, June 2015 This article identifies the key ethics rules related to attorneys serving on nonprofit boards, discusses the different roles an attorney-board member can have, and analyzes conflicts issues in detail.
2015 Ethics Extravaganza—Another well-received CLE production By Mike Jadron Government Lawyers, April 2015 The Ethics Extravaganza, held on March 6, 2015, provided an interactive experience focusing on ethical issues encountered by the governmental lawyer.
Ethics Corner: Tennessee ethics opinion places limits on attorney’s authority to disclose will By Edward J. Jarot Trusts and Estates, September 2014 While the Tennessee opinion is not precedent in Illinois, the opinion raises interesting questions regarding the Attorney-Client Privilege and whether the privilege can be waived by anyone other than the client.

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