I am a lawyer representing a client in a civil case and there is a deadline to file substantive documents to preserve a claim. In the last day, the opponent’s lawyer, who I know, called me and said they were uncertain of the time to file. Did I have a duty to tell the opponent’s lawyer that the deadline was that very day?

Perhaps, the answer depends on how one defines or views the practice of law. If this is a cutthroat business where winning is everything then the answer, of course, would be no as to a duty to tell. If this is a profession where lawyers practice a long tradition of service, and a tradition of helping, at times, and mentoring other lawyers, the answer is yes. Many lawyers would state no, the answer is not to help—in any way—one’s opponent because of the duty of zealous representation under the Rules of Professional Conduct.

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