This CLE session offers a comprehensive survey of the past year’s most influential ethics guidance issued by the ABA and state bar organizations. Rather than simply restating the rules, the program emphasizes how these opinions shape real-world professional conduct and decision-making.

The presentation will also delve into prominent ethics concerns that surfaced this year, including the impact of external pressures—particularly political forces—on lawyers and on the broader principle of an independent rule of law in the United States. Participants will further explore the ethical complications arising from the uptick in law-firm combinations and the increased mobility of attorneys across firms.

The course will additionally consider the unique challenges presented when lawyers shift from regulatory positions to private-sector roles within the same industry. To conclude, the program will look ahead to emerging issues, such as ethical implications of artificial intelligence and the accelerating convergence of legal practices with accounting and financial services organizations.