What, specifically, are attorneys’ ethical duties under the Rules of Professional Conduct?
The Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit lawyers from engaging in conduct involving moral turpitude, fraud, deceit, dishonesty or misrepresentation and from engaging in other action that could improperly prejudice the outcome of a case or legal matter. Some other specific provisions cover: * Fees and employment. Attorneys are not allowed to agree to, charge, or collect an illegal payment (such as stolen property) or charge clearly excessive fees. To decide whether a fee is “clearly excessive,” the factors taken into account include the amount of time spent by the lawyer; difficulty of legal issues; customary fees in the area; the amount of money at stake and results obtained by the lawyer; experience and reputation of the attorney; and whether representation was on a contingent fee basis. * Confidentiality and conflict of interest. Except in very rare instances, attorneys may not reveal any confidence a client has told them during the lawyer/client relationship. Lawyers also generall
