Effingham Bar Association

  Effingham Bar Association - Counselor

 

In representing a client, we will exercise independent professional judgment and render candid advice. We will not be deterred from giving candid advice by the prospect that the advice will be unpalatable to our client.

 

Effingham Bar Association - Advocate

 

MERITORIOUS CLAIMS AND CONTENTIONS

In the representation of our clients, we will not:

(a) file a suit, assert a position, conduct a defense, delay a trial, or take other action on
behalf of our clients when we know that such action would serve merely to harass or maliciously injure another;

(b) knowingly advance a claim or defense that is unwarranted under existing law, except that we may advance such claim or defense if it can be supported by a good faith argument for an extension, modification or reversal of existing law.

EXPEDITING LITIGATION

We shall make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation consistent with the interests of our clients.

CANDOR TOWARD THE TRIBUNAL

We will not knowingly:

(1) make a false statement of material fact or law to a tribunal;

(2) fail to disclose a material fact to a tribunal when disclosure is necessary to avoid
assisting a criminal or fraudulent act by our client;

(3) fail to disclose to the tribunal legal authority in the controlling jurisdiction known to us to be directly adverse to the position of our client and not disclosed by opposing counsel; or

(4) offer evidence that we know to be false. If we offer material evidence and come to know of its falsity, we shall take reasonable remedial measures.

In an ex parte proceeding, we will inform the tribunal of all material facts known to us
that we reasonably believe are necessary to enable the tribunal to make an informed decision, whether or not the facts are adverse.

FAIRNESS TO OPPOSING PARTY AND COUNSEL

We will not:

(a) unlawfully obstruct another party's access to evidence or unlawfully alter, destroy or
conceal a document or other material having potential evidentiary value. We will not counsel or assist another person to do any such act;

(b)

(1) falsify evidence;

(2) counsel or assist a witness to testify falsely;

(3) pay, offer to pay, or acquiesce in the payment of compensation to a witness contingent upon the content of the testimony or the outcome of the case.

(c) request a person other than a client to refrain from voluntarily giving relevant information to another party unless:

(1) the person is a relative or an employee or other agent of a client; or

(2) the information is subject to the assertion of a privilege by the client; and

(3) we reasonably believe that the person's interests will not be adversely affected by refraining from giving such information and the request is not otherwise prohibited by law;

(d) use methods of obtaining evidence that violate the legal rights of the opposing party or counsel; or

(e) present, participate in presenting or threaten to present criminal charges solely to obtain an advantage in a civil matter.

IMPARTIALITY AND DECORUM OF THE TRIBUNAL

We will not:

(a) seek to influence a judge, juror, prospective juror or other official by means prohibited by law;

(b) communicate ex parte with such a person except as permitted by law; or

(c) engage in conduct intended to disrupt a tribunal.

TRIAL PUBLICITY

(a) If we are participating or have participated in the investigation or litigation of a matter, we will not make an extrajudicial statement that a person would reasonably believe to be disseminated by means of public communication if we know or reasonably should know that it will have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing an adjudicative proceeding in the matter.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), we may make a statement that a reasonable lawyer would believe is required to protect our client from the substantial undue prejudicial effect of recent publicity not initiated by us or our client.