Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byClementine Warren Modified over 9 years ago
1
TOPIC G: CLIENTS’ RIGHTS 2016 P.R. Prof. Janicke
2
MAIN RIGHTS CORROLARY OF LAWYER’S DUTIES THE #1 TOPIC ON MPRE 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS2
3
THE EASY ONES (TO UNDERSTAND) COMPETENCE TO DEAL WITH THE PARTICULAR MATTER AT HAND R. 1.1 THE SKILL CAN BE EITHER EXISTING OR TO-BE-ACQUIRED SHORTLY C4 [DILEMMA: DEDUCING WHAT SKILLS YOU WILL NEED] 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS3
4
CAN YOU ENGAGE AN OUTSIDE-THE-FIRM HELPER-LAWYER? YES. R. 1.1 C6 BUT CLIENT’S “INFORMED CONSENT” IS NEEDED C6 –DEFINITION: LAWYER MUST EXPLAIN THE RISKS AND ALTERNATIVES R. 1.0(e) 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS4
5
THIS PARTICULAR INFORMED CONSENT MUST DEAL WITH: ALLOCATION OF AUTHORITY R. 1.1 C7 FEE-SHARING R. 1.5(e) ETC. 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS5
6
DILIGENCE R. 1.3 THE #1 OR #2 CAUSE OF GRIEVANCES, BAR SANCTIONS, and MALPRACTICE CLAIMS THESE ARE EASY QUESTIONS TO DEAL WITH ON MPRE –NOT SO EASY IN PRACTICE – PROCRASTINATION RULES 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS6
7
INDEPENDENCE OF JUDGMENT IS ESSENTIAL TO THE RELATIONSHIP ESP. WHERE 3 RD PARTY IS TO PAY THE FEES –CLIENT MUST APPROVE R. 1.8(f) 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS7
8
FREEDOM FROM CONFLICTS WITH OTHER CLIENTS’ INTERESTS TOPICS I and J WITH THE LAWYER’S OWN FINANCIAL OR PERSONAL INTERESTS TOPIC H PURPOSE: TO PRESERVE INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS8
9
OTHER RIGHTS TO KNOW THE ENGAGEMENT TERMS R. 1.5(b) –FEES, EXPENSES, LIMITATIONS, ETC. 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS9
10
RIGHT TO COMMUNICATION R. 1.4 MUST KEEP CLIENT REASONABLY AND PROMPTLY INFORMED A BIG PROBLEM IN PRACTICE WE ALWAYS “MEAN TO” COMMUNICATE, BUT WE PUT IT OFF TO ATTEND TO OTHER THINGS 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS10
11
AN EASY SOLUTION FOR COMMUNICATION DUTY FRANK’S RULE: NOTIFY CLIENT OF ALL HAPPENINGS, SAME DAY; ATTACH PERTINENT PAPERS EVEN IF YOU HAVE NOTHING YET TO RECOMMEND 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS11
12
MALPRACTICE CLAIMS: NO QUIET SETTLEMENTS SETTLING CLIENT CLAIM AGAINST LAWYER REQUIRES ELABORATE ADVICE AND CONSENT R. 1.8(h)(2) –CANNOT BE DONE QUIETLY C 15 –EVEN POTENTIAL CLAIMS FALL UNDER THIS RULE R. 1.8(h)(2) 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS12
13
WHAT YOU CAN DO MAKE AMENDS (W/O SETTLING) –WORKS BEST IN CONJUNCTION WITH PROMPT CONFESSION OF FAULT –SURPRISE TRIGGERS MANY MALPRACTICE CLAIMS 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS13
14
DECISIONS DURING THE RELATIONSHIP HOW TO HANDLE THE CASE
15
CLIENT HAS THE FINAL SAY ON CERTAIN DECISIONS R. 1.2 (BUT CAN AUTHORIZE THE LAWYER TO DECIDE) SETTLEMENT TERMS WHAT PLEA IN A CRIMINAL CASE WHETHER TO TESTIFY IN A CRIMINAL CASE LAWYER ROLE IS USUALLY AS CONSULTANT 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS15
16
OTHER DECISIONS MAINLY TACTICS R. 1.2 C 2, 3 LAWYER DECIDES, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH CLIENT BUT - - - → 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS16
17
CLIENT HAS THE POWER TO TERMINATE THE RELATIONSHIP AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON OR NO REASON R. 1.16 C4 FEES MAY BE DUE – DON’T TRY TO COLLECT THEM 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS17
18
LAWYER CAN WITHDRAW SOMETIMES R. 1.16 1.BY PROVISION IN THE ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT or 2.FOR CLIENT FRAUD OR ILLEGALITY R. 1.16(b)(3) or 3.“UNREASONABLY DIFFICULT” CLIENT R. 1.16(b)(6) or 4.ANY REASON, IF NO HARM TO CLIENT R. 1.16(b)(1) 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS18
19
LAWYER MUST WITHDRAW IF LAWYER NO LONGER HAS PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CAPABILITY TO CONTINUE WITHOUT IMPAIRING THE REPRESENTATION R. 1.16(a) 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS19
20
CAVEAT: WITHDRAWAL FROM A COURT CASE DEPENDS ON LOCAL LAW R. 1.16(c) USUALLY NEED THE JUDGE’S PERMISSION –IN ADDITION TO A RULE 1.16 GROUND 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS20
21
RIGHT TO CONFIDENTIALITY R. 1.6 ADDRESSED IN TOPIC B RULES APPLY DURING AND AFTER 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS21
22
RIGHT TO LAWYER’S FREEDOM FROM CONFLICTS –TOPIC H: LAWYER’S OWN INTEREST CONFLICT –TOPIC I: CONFLICT WITH OTHER CURRENT CLIENT’S INTEREST –TOPIC J: CONFLICT WITH FORMER CLIENT’S INTEREST 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS22
23
SOME RIGHTS EVEN FOR PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS R. 1.18 TOPIC Q PRE-SYNOPSIS HERE: –NO USING OR REVEALING INFO, EXCEPT: WHEN INFO BECOMES GENERALLY KNOWN –NO TAKING ON ADVERSE FUTURE CLIENT, IN A RELATED MATTER, WHERE THE INFO COULD BE HARMFUL TO THE PROSPECTIVE PERSON 2016TOPIC H -- CLIENTS' RIGHTS23
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.