Much has been said and lamented about the declining civility in our daily lives and in our legal profession. Whether it is vituperative language, attempted "gotchas" for responses a day late, or refusals to consent where consent is a common courtesy, or simply excessive aggressiveness in everyday communications, nastiness seems to reflect a general decline in respect outside of the profession. Acting zealously for your client does not mean having to use offensive tactics and practicing lack of courtesy. Civility makes the legal process more tolerable, more efficient and less expensive for clients.