Ukraine, the Ethics of Client Selection, and the Limits of Lawyering
Channel: LSE Law School
Date: 2022-03-22

The conflict in the Ukraine and resulting sanctions imposed on Russian companies and individuals in the UK and globally has brought into sharp relief the ethical questions around how lawyers determine whether they should accept a client mandate and how they advise and act for them responsibly. MPs have criticised lawyers as professional enablers of intimidation, which has prevented critique of those who are now sanctioned. On the otherhand, professional leaders opine on the rule of law implications of criticising access to justice for unpopular people. The seminar will explore: whether lawyers should be more willing to say no to a client mandate; whether there are, or should be, limits on how far lawyers should go in furthering their clients’ interests; and how do we ensure that those limits do not interfere with the core function of lawyers, to enable individuals to protect their rights and to ensure that we the live under the rule of law.

Speakers: 
Trevor Clark, Lecturer in the Legal Profession, Leeds University, formerly Partner, Linklaters; 
Richard Moorhead, Professor of Law and Professional Ethics, University of Exeter; 
Iain Miller, Partner, Kingsley Napley

Chair: Professor David Kershaw

First presented at the London School of Economics and Political Science on Thursday, 17 March 2022