Ethics and Professionalism

Why Choose Us

The law puts great responsibility on those who practice it. When you received your law license, you agreed to follow and uphold the rules of legal ethics. As an attorney, that license is your greatest asset so it’s important not to take unnecessary risks with it. Knowing your ethical responsibilities and obligations before you act enables you to honor your commitment to ethics and professionalism and ensures you remain a steadfast legal advocate for your clients.

UB Greensfelder’s ethics attorneys use their deep knowledge of the rules of conduct to provide proactive counsel on ethics-related issues and defend attorneys exposed to liability for their professional conduct. Whether you or your law firm are in need of strategic advice or representation regarding an ethics matter, we can provide you with proactive counseling, useful guidance, and vigorous defense.

Who We Assist

Lawyers, law firms, and law students rely on our team to provide guidance regarding a wide array of legal ethics issues. We have significant experience advising clients through challenging situations, providing feedback on potential paths of action while there is still opportunity to adjust course and representing clients accused of violating ethical rules.

What We Do

Prudent attorneys and firms understand that they cannot wait to seek the advice of experienced ethics counsel until they are in the middle of an alleged ethical breach. Our team listens to you and delivers solutions to the complex matters affecting your practice. In addressing your ethics issues, we provide a useful range of services, including but not limited to:

• Advising attorneys regarding compliance with rules of professional conduct.
• Providing confidential advice to help attorneys avoid ethical breaches before they occur.
• Counseling on a lawyer’s duty of confidentiality and the limits and exceptions to attorney-client privilege.
• Helping attorneys navigate what they can and cannot do with respect to lawyer advertising.
• Providing counsel to assist clients in avoiding conflicts of interest.
• Advising on Interest on Lawyer Trust Account (IOLTA) management issues, such as the danger of commingling funds, rules for withdrawals, and recordkeeping requirements, and advocating on behalf of clients who are accused of mismanaging such accounts.
• Guiding attorneys and law firms on key ethical obligations during the period of transition when lawyers change firms.
• Providing counsel on ethical rules involving ex parte contact with employees and other unrepresented individuals.
• Advocating for law students and out-of-state lawyers seeking admission to the bar, as well as practitioners seeking to return to the practice of law after suspension, in character and fitness proceedings.