Opinion ID: 1976880
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Neglect of Professional Responsibility.

Text: As we noted in Committee on Professional Ethics and Conduct v. Rogers, 313 N.W.2d 535, 536 (Iowa 1981), a lawyer's obligation to his client requires him to prepare adequately for and give appropriate attention to his legal work. We distinguished professional neglect from mere inadvertence or errors involving professional judgment by quoting with approval from ABA Comm. on Professional Ethics Informal Opinions, No. 1273 (1973). That opinion states that a violation of DR 6-101 generally involves: Indifference and a consistent failure to carry out the obligations which the lawyer has assumed to his client or a conscious disregard for the responsibility owed to the client.... Neglect cannot be found if the acts or omissions complained of were inadvertent or the result of an error of judgment made in good faith. We find that the record of appellant's actions which we have detailed above fully supports the Commission's finding that appellant has violated DR 6-101 and DR 7-101.