Ethics

Legal  ethics are the rules by which lawyers lay the foundation for  their profession.  Every profession has its unique precepts that govern  what is professionally  acceptable and what is not. For lawyers it is a  strict code that permits us to  act as a unified body and distinguishes  us from the general population. Some  conduct that may be acceptable to  the public may not be acceptable in our  profession and is regulated by  our professional code. In Ohio, the Rules of Professional Conduct is what establishes our professional parameters. Ethics Is not the same as   malpractice, although some malpractice constitutes a breach of our code  of  ethics. There are ethical violations that are not malpractice. In  Ohio, our ethics are  strictly regulated by the Supreme Court and its  Board of Commissioners on  Grievance and Discipline. The investigative  arm of the Supreme Court of Ohio is  the Office of Disciplinary Counsel  and concurrent jurisdiction with various  certified grievance committees  of the larger bar associations in Ohio.

Should a lawyer violate these rules of   professional conduct it is the Disciplinary Counsel or a certified  grievance  committee that investigates and if necessary, prosecutes the  case. Should a  lawyer find himself in an ethical quandary he needs to  consult with an attorney  well-versed in these rules. My practice  includes such expertise and offers  confidential consultations on  professional matters.