Resources

Texas Ethics Course

A significant problem facing the legal profession today is that unprofessional conduct by a minority of lawyers counterbalances the actual professional conduct of a majority of the country's lawyers, at least in the minds of the public.

The Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism has worked closely with the Professionalism Committee of the State Bar in developing this course. Click on any link below to view the course. (All links will open a PDF document)

BOOK ONE

A “HOW TO” GUIDE TO AN ETHICAL PRACTICE

Table of Contents

The Texas Lawyer’s Creed

Introduction

Chapter One

How to Avoid Client Problems
Part I - Your Relationship With Clients
Jeanette Ahlenius
Part II - What to Do About the Dishonest Client
Senior Judge Thomas M. Reavley

Chapter Two

How to Avoid Being Sued
Robert P. Schuwerk

Chapter Three

How to Avoid Losing Your Practice
Susan Saab Fortney

Chapter Four

How to Avoid Losing Your License
The Texas Disciplinary System
Timothy W. Floyd and Dawn Miller

Chapter Five

Career Killers
Ann D. Foster

Chapter Six

How to Manage Your Law Practice
Mitchel L. Winick

APPENDIX A

Communication Style Questionnaire
Guidelines for Identifying and Utilizing Communication Styles

APPENDIX B

Sample Attorney Marketing Action Plan
Client Development Contact List - Sources
Classification of Potential Client Contacts And Recommended Action Steps

APPENDIX C

Advertising Filing Form

APPENDIX D

Sample Client Satisfaction Survey

APPENDIX E

Lawyers’ Professional Liability Insurance Purchase Checklist

APPENDIX F

Sample Conflicts Memorandum
Sample Contract Letter (simple matter)
Sample Contract Letter (complex matter)
Sample Assignment And Power Of Attorney
Sample Letter Declining Employment (version 1)
Sample Letter Declining Employment (version 2)
Sample New Matter Data And Approval Form
Sample Completion Of Services Letter
Sample Letter Regarding Texas Lawyer’s Creed

BOOK TWO

THE ELEVEN COMMANDMENTS OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY: GALLIMAUFRY SECUNDUM Michael Sean Quinn with Evan Koch

Table of Contents

Introduction

A Short Digression upon Professionalism

Commandment One:
      Don’t Steal the Client’s Stuff

Commandment Two:
      Never Lie (with a Discussion of Securities Problems)

Commandment Three:
      Don’t Gouge

Commandment Four:
      Perform Promptly

Disquisition upon the Exposure of lawyers to Civil Remedies for Failing to Perform or perform Promptly–Legal Malpractice

Court regulation of attorney Conduct

Commandment Five:
      Don’t Do the Crime

Commandment Six:
      Serve Silently (sort of)!

Commandment Seven:
      Avoid Dueling Capacities

Commandment Eight:
      Keep a Civil tongue in your Head

Commandment Nine:
      Fight Fairly! Cheat not!

Commandment Ten:
      Mentor Carefully but Humanely: Insist On It

Commandment Eleven:
      Doubt? Stress? Get Help!

Conclusion

Exhibit A: An Argument about Lying

Exhibit B: Biography

Exhibit C: Autobiography

Exhibit D: Individual Cases

Exhibit E: Recognized Fairly Frequent Ethical Violations

Exhibit F: A Little High Tech Stuff

Exhibit G: 10 Hard-earned Lessons about Life and Law–or, Growing Balder and Wiser

Exhibit H: Enron

Exhibit I: Sarbanes-Oxley