Find an Ethics & Professional Responsibility Lawyer

The area of law dealing with ethics and professional responsibility extends to all industries with individuals serving in professional capacities. For example, all U.S. physicians are required to follow the American Medical Association's Principles of Medical Ethics, and the Radio-Television News Directors Association has a code of ethics their professional journalists must follow. Educators and social workers also have a code of professional practice and conduct. The body of law setting forth the duties, standards and code of conduct for attorneys governs not only attorney-client relationships but also interactions between attorneys and other professionals in the legal field. Professional responsibility differs on a state-by-state basis, and attorneys must follow the rules established by the states in which they are licensed to practice law. A disciplinary authority (ranging from small fines to being disbarred) also resides in the areas where an attorney is licensed to practice. Attorneys are also prohibited from failing to respond to a disciplinary authority's lawful demand for information. Continued... By Kathleen Goolsby