Ethics Bootcamp for the Busy Practitioner

A pre-recorded streaming VIDEO replay of the October 2024 webcast, Ethics Bootcamp for the Busy Practitioner.

The Ethics Bootcamp for the Busy Practitioner is designed to educate attorneys on the VSB Disciplinary System and how it investigates allegations of ethical misconduct by attorneys. The course, which includes four separate sessions, highlights recent public cases resulting in findings of ethical misconduct by attorneys and provide a statistical overview of the most commonly violated Rules of Professional Conduct. 

The course focuses on the most common types of ethical misconduct committed by attorneys and provides practical guidance on steps attorneys can take to reduce the risk of those violations.  The core topics include how to properly communicate with and diligently represent clients, including the “difficult client”; how to identify conflicts of interest; and how to differentiate between types of fees and understand when those fees should be held in trust. 

The course also addresses attorney wellness and how mental and physical illness can impact an attorney’s ability to practice law and place an attorney’s clients at risk. The course emphasizes succession-planning and other precautionary measures attorneys can take to protect their clients in the event tragedy suddenly prevents them from practicing law.

• Get the headlines from the VSB Disciplinary System, including the most recent public cases, trends, and statistics.
• Understand the VSB’s mission of public protection and how the VSB investigates allegations of misconduct.
• Discover the most common ethics issues facing practitioners from conflicts of interest and botched appeals to subpar communication with clients (and some easy steps to help avoid them).
• Identify red flags that can signal attorney misconduct.
• Distinguish between retainers, fixed fees, and advanced legal fees and the trust accounting requirements that apply to each.
• Learn how to protect clients when an attorney becomes ill or incapacitated, including some preventive measures to take now in the event that tragedy someday strikes.

Faculty

Robert Baker, Virginia State Bar / Richmond

Renu M. Brennan, Virginia State Bar / Richmond

Edward J. Dillon, Virginia State Bar / Richmond

Barbara Mardigian, Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program / Richmond

Tenley Carroll Seli, Virginia State Bar / Richmond

Elizabeth K. Shoenfeld, Virginia State Bar / Richmond

Melissa W. Robinson, Glenn Robinson Cathey Skaff & White, PLC / Roanoke