ABSTRACT
There is little doubt that the public has different expectations of ethical behavior for members of the legal profession than they do of many other professions. The reason has to do with the fact that those who need to consult with lawyers rely heavily on trust and how competently the attorney will function, or how responsibly they will conduct themselves on a client's behalf. As such, knowledge of the complex array of legal ethics is important in that it allows an attorney to maintain a high moral standard in performing his duties as an officer of the court, his duties to his client, to the members of the legal profession, and to society as a whole. The legal profession is largely a self-regulating profession and the Canons or Rules that guide legal ethics were originally created more than 100 years ago. As such, knowledge of a legal professional's state and local rules on ethical conduct, bar association ethics opinions, and related court opinions on the same will be paramount to the ability to render competent, professional, ethical, and effective legal representation, regardless of area practiced.
