Opinion ID: 1680259
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Preservation of the Dignity and Reputation of the Profession

Text: ¶ 11. Turnage argues that the dignity and reputation of the profession has not been harmed because there is no finding that he committed any fraud, dishonesty, or neglect of clients' cases. However, among many persons in our society today there is a low regard for lawyers and the legal profession. Consequently, in disciplinary proceedings there is a strong need to rectify abuses in order to preserve the dignity and reputation of the profession. The Preamble to the Rules of Professional Conduct points out that where members of the Bar neglect the responsibilities of self-governance, by being less than diligent in weeding out abuses within the profession, both the independence of the profession and the public interest which it serves are jeopardized. Rogers v. Miss. Bar, 731 So.2d 1158, 1172 (Miss. 1999).