Learning more about the Professional Responsibility Issues in Your Practice Area

This is a group research assignment. You may divide the work any way you like, but be prepared to share with one another not only the results of your research but the research path you used to get those results.

1. Identify professional organizations for your practice area. Provide a URL for the website of each of these professional organizations

2. Identify whether there are model standards or codes of ethics designed for your particular practice area. Provide a URL for the website at which one can find (or order) that code.

3. Identify at least two attorneys who practice in your area of practice and interview them about the ethical issues that are most common and the issues that are most difficult in their area of practice. Provide the name and contact information (a phone number or email address will do) for each and summarize the ethical issues identified in your conversation. If you have any difficulty identifying attorneys, I would be happy to provide some referrals.

Guidelines for Interviewing Attorneys

First contact the attorney you wish to interview. Introduce yourself and inform the attorney that you are conducting the interview for a class assignment and that the information they provide will be shared with the class. Ask if they are available to speak with you for about 15-20 minutes for the interview. Arrange for a time to speak with them personally over the phone or in person. Do not text or email attorneys with a list of questions and ask them to fill out the answers.

Make sure that whomever you choose is comfortable with the idea of having you ask

him or her questions. Let them know that they don’t have to answer any question they don’t want to answer. Give them my name and contact information so they can call with questions or concerns about the assignment.

I advise against recording the interview. Have a conversation for about 15 minutes and then IMMEDIATELY after the interview is over, review your notes and fill out the information you jotted down during the interview.

The most important thing during the interview is to LISTEN to what the person is saying to you and to ask appropriate follow-up questions if you do not understand.

Do NOT ask about individual experiences with disciplinary matters, client representations or other personal experiences. You are asking only about the attorney’s general views on common ethical issues among attorneys as a whole in their field of practice.

Be sure to obtain contact information so that I may thank the attorney for their assistance with your learning.