Michael Maslanka. 'Commit Yourself to Act': Actionable Guidance for Ethical Dilemmas
"Lawyers need not be a tortured Prince Hamlet, strutting back and forth, agonizing over an ethical dilemma," writes columnist Michael P. Maslanka.
September 11, 2024 at 12:00 PM
6 minute read
Legal Ethics and Attorney Discipline
Teaching professional responsibility is an important gig, whether to law students or new lawyers. Rule memorization is one means, albeit flawed. Memories fail, and mere words—without grasping their animating spirit—provide scant guidance. Imparting traditional values—loyalty, honesty, transparency—is admirable yet not always useful in the rough and tumble of practice. Let me propose a fresh approach: identifying anticipated ethical dilemmas, then providing "Actionable Guidance" to their resolution: If A occurs, Z is a potential response. (Gain insight by reading "Build a Corporate Culture That Works," by Erin Meyer, in the July-August 2024 issue of the Harvard Business Review.)
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