The question of who makes the decisions in a lawyer-client relationship is far more confusing than it first appears. There are a slew of factors that come into play, beyond the obvious Rule 1.2. Because of the myriad of factors that come into play, there is also a lot of overlap with other rules. For instance, there are issues of communication (Rule 1.4) and whether to withdraw (Rule 1.16).
There are practical issues as well. For instance, as lawyers we are required to maintain a sense of professional sovereignty. We can't simply execute what other people say-- in fact there are a variety of rules that require us to exhibit independence. In addition, there are ego issues. That’s right, our ego creates a bit of havoc when determining who calls the shots in a lawyer-client relationship. Navigating the waters between being a person who executes a client’s objectives and playing the role of independent advisor can be treacherous. Hopefully, the rules that follow will serve as a useful guide.
Speaker: Stuart Teicher, The CLE Performer
Moderator: C. Michelle Coleman, Coleman Consulting, LLC, Jefferson City
Who Calls the Shots Written Materials (171.1 KB) | Available after Purchase |
Faculty Bios (54.8 KB) | Available after Purchase |
MCLE Form (126.1 KB) | Available after Purchase |
MOLAP Information (215 KB) | Available after Purchase |
Important Information for Attorneys Seeking Kansas Credit (58.6 KB) | Available after Purchase |
Stuart I. Teicher, Esq. is a professional legal educator who focuses on ethics law and writing instruction. A practicing attorney for over two decades, Stuart’s career is now dedicated to helping fellow attorneys survive the practice of law and thrive in the profession. Mr. Teicher teaches seminars, provides in-house training to law firms and legal departments, provides CLE instruction at law firm client events, and also gives keynote speeches at conventions and association meetings.
Stuart helps attorneys get better at what they do (and enjoy the process) through his entertaining and educational CLE Performances. He speaks, teaches, and writes—Thomson Reuters published his book entitled, Navigating the Legal Ethics of Social Media and Technology.
Mr. Teicher is a Supreme Court appointee to the New Jersey District Ethics Committee where he investigates and prosecutes grievances filed against attorneys. Mr. Teicher is an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown Law where he teaches Professional Responsibility, and he is an adjunct professor at Rutgers University in New Brunswick where he teaches undergraduate writing courses.