Practicing With Professionalism - South Carolina Bar Association
Practicing With Professionalism - South Carolina Bar Association
Practicing With Professionalism - South Carolina Bar Association
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A Lawyer's~Principl~s"-of <strong>Professionalism</strong><br />
The-hallmark ofa civilized society is its ability<br />
to maintain a judicial system that is fair, effective<br />
and efficient. As lawyers, we have a<br />
predominant role in assuring that thejudicial<br />
system fulfills these goals. Toward that.end,<br />
each lawyer should aspire to fulfill the fallowingPrinciples<br />
ofProfessionaJism:<br />
1. A lawyer owes, to the judiciary, tothe<br />
client and to opposing counsel, candor, diligence,<br />
respect, courtesy, cooperation and competence.<br />
2. In serving the client, a lawyer must be ever<br />
con2Cious ofthe broader duty to thejudicial<br />
system ofwhich both attorne~ and client are a<br />
part.<br />
3. A client has no right to demand thatcounsel<br />
abuse any participant in thejudicial system<br />
orindulge.in offensive conduct. Effective<br />
advoCacy requires neither.<br />
..<br />
4. Ala:wyer should not Use any form ofdiscovery,<br />
the schedu:I4J.g ofdiscovery or any other<br />
partofthe dispute resolution process as a<br />
means ofharassing opposing counsel or opposing<br />
counsel's client oras a means ofimpeding<br />
the timely, efficientand costeffective resolution<br />
ofa dispute.<br />
5. A lawyer will be punctual in corrununications<br />
with others and in honoring scheduled<br />
appearances and will recognize that neglect<br />
and tardiness are demeaning to the lawyer<br />
and to thejudicial system.<br />
6. !fa fel1o~ member ofthe barmakes a just<br />
req1..!est for cooperation or seeks scheduling accommodations,<br />
a lawyer will notarbitrarily or<br />
unreasonably <strong>With</strong>hold consent.<br />
7. A lawyer owes to the public a devotion to<br />
the public good and to public service; a corrunitrnent<br />
to the improvement ofthe administra-.<br />
tion ofjustice; a duty to abide by and reportviolations<br />
by others ofany disciplinary rules; and<br />
th~ contribution ofuncompensatedtime and<br />
civic influence on behalfofthose persons who<br />
cannot afford adequate legalassistance.<br />
8. Above all, a lawyer owes to all with whom'<br />
the lawyer comes in contact, civility, professional<br />
integrity and personal dignity:.
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