Ethics Corner Article New Hampshire Bar News – November 18, 2011 Dear Ethics Committee: I am a solo practitioner with a successful practice in a rural part of the state. I rely on several institutional clients –
The Committee analyzed several scenarios where a lawyer was asked by a client to benefit either the lawyer or the lawyer’s family by a present or testamentary gift. In this opinion, the Committee discussed the issues of direct gifts to the lawyer, gifts to individual related both to the testator and the lawyer, and a gift to a charitable organization for which the lawyer raised funds.
May a New Hampshire attorney outsource litigation support services, such as document review, to a company located overseas, on a temporary or an ongoing basis? Must that attorney notify the client of the use of these services?
A lawyer may not condition settlement of a dispute with a client upon the client agreeing not to file professional conduct complaint against the lawyer.
Advertising that a lawyer is a “million dollar advocate” or is a member of the “Million Dollar Advocates Forum” is permissible only if the advertisement includes an appropriate disclaimer.
In an attempt to collect an unpaid bill, an attorney may not (a) threaten to or actually inform the Internal Revenue Service that the attorney has written off the account receivable and considers the unpaid legal fees a debt that has been forgiven, or (b) inform a regulatory agency that a client owes unpaid fees to the attorney.