The Lawyer's Lawyer

Raising questions "about the appearance of impropriety" on the part of its top ethics official, the Supreme Court of Maryland asked whether Bar Counsel used her official position "to undermine ... a candidate in a Judicial election."

Q. Like everything else, I'm behind in formulating my New Year's resolutions. Aside from getting my booster shot, what should I resolve to do in the year ahead?

Q. My tech client had a huge gift basket delivered to me, with an envelope containing first class tickets for a golf trip to Scotland. May I accept these?

Q. We are thankful for the many satisfied clients who have recommended us to their friends, coworkers and relatives. To encourage more referrals, may we send them tokens of our appreciation?

Q. In charging clients by the hour, aren't we rewarded for inefficiency and penalized for expeditious resolutions? Is there a more ethical way to bill our clients for legal services?

Q. My client has just been indicted on 13 counts of fraud and every reporter in town has called me for comment. Should I call them back? 

Q. After his client denied any text messages about this case, defense counsel sent me a thumb drive with hundreds of them, including some attorney-client communications. May I use these?

Q. As we head to the beach for a two-week vacation, my wife and kids want me to leave my cell phone behind so I won't be distracted with client calls. Is this a good idea?

Q. Rather than focus on charges that may be tough to beat, my client repeatedly insists that she wouldn't be prosecuted at all if she were white. As a white woman, how can I get her off this racist rant?

Q. In a profession with a higher incidence of mental illness and addiction than society at large, are we doing enough to care for our colleagues?

Q. If I don't take retainers, I won't need a trust account at all. Can't I avoid this whole problem by billing for my work after it's completed?

Q. I read that Maryland's Bar Counsel tried to deprive accused lawyers of an equal right to discovery in disciplinary cases. Whatever happened to fundamental fairness?

I'm one of those legal dinosaurs that still keeps handwritten ledgers. Are there specific programs I should use?

Q. To help me celebrate April Fool's Day, the local sheriff will have my law partner detained as he walks into court today. When he asks why, the sheriff will say he's being arrested for the prank he pulled on me last year. Pretty hilarious, huh?

Q. I handle criminal cases for one flat fee – start to finish. When must I put the fee in trust and when can I take payments along the way?

Q. As lawyers, we know that "all persons" should be treated equally under the law. Does that apply to "all lawyers" in the attorney grievance process?

As one law professor wrote, this oral "argument delve[d] into the philosophy of attorney regulation and the appropriate role of disciplinary counsel in a way that few cases do."

Q. Representing a large manufacturer, I sent a demand letter threatening to sue its competitor and promising a nasty discovery process that would be the "legal equivalent of a proctology exam." Did I go too far?