Opinion ID: 1984112
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Professionalism

Text: It is important to understand the distinction between conduct which violates disciplinary rules of the DLRPC and conduct which is unprofessional. Professionalism includes, but is not limited to, compliance with the ethical rules embodied in the DLRPC. Professionalism goes beyond the minimum standards  required of all lawyers... professionalism is a higher standard expected of all lawyers. The Honorable Harold G. Clarke, Chief Justice (Retired), Supreme Court of Georgia, State Bar Journal of Georgia (May 1989) (emphasis in original). The Preamble to the DLRPC provides, in part: In all professional functions a lawyer should be competent, prompt and diligent. A lawyer should maintain communication with a client concerning the representation.       A lawyer should strive to attain the highest level of skill, to improve the law and the legal profession and to exemplify the legal profession's ideals of public service.       The Rules do not, however, exhaust the moral and ethical considerations that should inform a lawyer, for no worthwhile human activity can be completely defined by legal rules. The Rules simply provide a framework for the ethical practice of law. Professionalism embodies an attitude and a dedication to civility, skill, businesslike practices and a focus on service, rather than making money. Professionalism will often be rewarded materially. The defining tension in law practice today is between professionalism and money.... [We] do not have to choose between professionalism and money. Indeed, we do not even have that choice. What we do have to do is decide simply which one comes first. If our first priority is the highest level of service to clients of which we are capable, coupled with our obligations to the legal system and to our society, then everything else falls into place.... If, on the other hand, money is our first priority, if making as much money as we can is our goal and serving clients is seen simply as a means of making money, all kinds of results flow from that, and they are almost all bad. Seth Rosner, Chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Professionalism, Professionalism and Money: A Matter of Priorities, The Professional Lawyer 9-11 (May 1993); see also E. Norman Veasey, Professionalism and Pragmatism  The Future, Delaware Lawyer, at 13 (Winter 1993).