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Defendant was criminally charged with embezzlement and would like to retain Successful Defense Lawyer, who is in high demand. To convince Successful Defense Lawyer to represent him, Defendant agrees to pay Successful Defense Lawyer’s premium hourly rate, and he also offers to pay a bonus of $10,000 if he is acquitted.   Is Successful Defense Lawyer subject to discipline if he accepts the representation on those terms?

Defendant was criminally charged with embezzlement and would like to retain Successful Defense Lawyer, who is in high demand. To convince Successful Defense Lawyer to represent him, Defendant agrees to pay Successful Defense Lawyer’s premium hourly rate, and he also offers to pay a bonus of $10,000 if he is acquitted.   Is Successful Defense Lawyer subject to discipline if he accepts the representation on those terms?

The part-time mayor of a small city is a licensed attorney who is also in a law partnership with another attorney. Under the city’s charter, the mayor has the authority to determine what issues are to be placed on the city council agenda. Several council members have told the mayor that they would like to see a zoning ordinance placed on the agenda. This proposed ordinance would ban commercial development of a certain area with the city.   The mayor’s law partner has been retained as attorney for a development company that has acquired land in the proposed noncommercial zoning area and has plans to construct a large shopping center there.  The development company opposes the proposed zoning ordinance.  The mayor has agreed to take no direct role in the representation and  not to share in any legal fees from the case.   May the mayor’s law partner represent the development company in this matter?

A public defender represented a client in a murder case. While investigating the case, the public defender obtained indisputable evidence that the client committed another murder for which a different, innocent person was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.   Which answer accurately describes the public defender’s professional responsibility?

A public defender represented a client in a murder case. While investigating the case, the public defender obtained indisputable evidence that the client committed another murder for which a different, innocent person was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.   Which answer accurately describes the public defender’s professional responsibility?

A lawyer may not charge a non-refundable fee unless the client gives informed consent to the non-refundability aspect of the fee.

Client is about to go to trial on a criminal charge of burglary.  Lawyer has interviewed Client and learned that Client wishes to testify at trial that he was with his girlfriend at her apartment at the time of the crime.  Client tells Lawyer that he insists on testifying and he insists that his girlfriend be permitted to testify to corroborate the alibi.  Lawyer thinks the story is implausible and reasonably believes that both Client and girlfriend are lying.   What is the correct course of conduct for Lawyer?

Lawyer, while working for the IRS, handled a number of cases involving the tax audit of Corporation in connection with the Corporation’s merger with a foreign company. After four years at the IRS, Lawyer accepted a position with Big Law, the law firm that represented Corporation. About six months after joining Big Law, Lawyer was asked to prepare the tax-free merger plans for Corporation and another domestic company.   May Lawyer, consistent with the Rules of Professional Conduct, undertake the representation?

Lawyer, while working for the IRS, handled a number of cases involving the tax audit of Corporation in connection with the Corporation’s merger with a foreign company. After four years at the IRS, Lawyer accepted a position with Big Law, the law firm that represented Corporation. About six months after joining Big Law, Lawyer was asked to prepare the tax-free merger plans for Corporation and another domestic company.   May Lawyer, consistent with the Rules of Professional Conduct, undertake the representation?

Client is about to go to trial on a criminal charge of burglary.  Lawyer has interviewed Client and learned that Client wishes to testify at trial that he was with his girlfriend at her apartment at the time of the crime.  Client tells Lawyer that he insists on testifying and he insists that his girlfriend be permitted to testify to corroborate the alibi.  Lawyer thinks the story is implausible and reasonably believes that both Client and girlfriend are lying.   What is the correct course of conduct for Lawyer?