Summary of State and Local Justice Initiatives 2000

PROFESSIONALISM: Ethics, Competency, Lawyer-Client Relations

Lawyers are held to the highest professional level of standards. Identifying and maintaining this degree of professionalism includes responsibilities in the areas of legal ethics, client protection mechanisms, professional regulation and discipline. Assuring the highest level of standards of conduct by lawyers and judges and enhancing the profession in serving and protecting the public interest is constantly challenged by an evolving society. Reported professionalism activities include:

The Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism coordinates professionalism courses, assists in developing professionalism programs for law firms, conducts statewide town hall meetings to address ethics and professionalism concerns, holds convocations on professionalism to explore concerns and goals with the bench and bar, and conducts law school orientations for professionalism. Also new this year is the Bench and Bar Committee’s Judicial District Professionalism Program (JDPP). It is designed to promote professionalism between lawyers and judges by using local peer influence to alter unprofessional and uncivil conduct.

The Rhode Island Bar Association sponsored a symposium on leadership and professionalism in November of 1999 at Roger Williams University School of Law. Bar leaders and faculty met to discuss ways in which to invigorate the leadership and public perception of the bar through increased professionalism.

The Virginia Bar Association’s Professionalism Task Force has focused its efforts on improving lawyers= knowledge of professional rules, ethics and civility through programs offered jointly with local and specialty bar associations throughout Virginia.

For further information on professionalism issues, contact the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility, 312/988-5304.