Samuel C Stretton

October 05, 2010 | The Legal Intelligencer

A potential client with a serious criminal matter has come to me. He is short of cash, but has real estate. The client is agreeable to signing over property to me or allowing me to secure a mortgage on the property as to the amount of my legal fee. Is such an arrangement permissible?

By Samuel C. Stretton

12 minute read

December 20, 2011 | The Legal Intelligencer

I am a judicial officer and I read your article about social media. Can I hear cases involving people I know?

By Samuel C. Stretton

10 minute read

April 09, 2013 | The Legal Intelligencer

I saw a candidate for the court of common pleas receive the endorsement of a county Fraternal Order of Police and in the endorsement agreed to sign a pledge to support issues involving police and other matters. Is that improper?

By Samuel C. Stretton

7 minute read

June 25, 2013 | The Legal Intelligencer

My litigation paralegal, who has worked closely with me on a number of litigation cases, has recently been hired by a law firm that opposes me in a number of cases. What steps should that law firm take — or what steps should I take — to protect confidentiality and any conflict of interest?

By Samuel C. Stretton

8 minute read

December 11, 2012 | The Legal Intelligencer

I am a young attorney handling criminal cases and have seen the district attorney and other prosecutors in trial give statements of personal opinion and, at times, not turn over all discovery.

By Samuel C. Stretton

8 minute read

April 24, 2012 | The Legal Intelligencer

I am an attorney in civil litigation and there has been a request for the production of notes my client has kept. Most of these notes my client kept were during meetings with me. Is there a privilege issue that can be raised?

By Samuel C. Stretton

8 minute read

September 25, 2012 | The Legal Intelligencer

What is the biggest mistake a lawyer handling an appeal can make in his or her appellate brief and/or oral argument?

By Samuel C. Stretton

7 minute read

December 07, 2009 | The Legal Intelligencer

I am of the age where several of my close friends are now becoming judicial officers. How do I address them when I see them in public? Can I still socialize with them?

By Samuel C. Stretton

7 minute read

April 02, 2013 | The Legal Intelligencer

I am a lawyer who is representing a client and it is clear to me that my fee arrangement is inadequate. Can I change the fee agreement during the middle of the representation?

By Samuel C. Stretton

10 minute read

June 05, 2012 | The Legal Intelligencer

I am a young lawyer who participated in a program through my church to provide legal advice to low-income clients who were not able to afford a lawyer. This was done through a program with the church on a Saturday afternoon in the church basement. Later in the week, when talking to my partners, I discovered that my law firm represents the spouse of one of the persons I gave advice to. I was not aware of it at the time. Will my firm have to disqualify itself?

By Samuel C. Stretton

6 minute read