Originally published in Commercial & Business Litigation, American Bar Association Section of Litigation, Fall 2012, Vol. 14 No. 1 - Ethics.

Young lawyers face new and unfamiliar pressures — meeting billing requirements, establishing a good reputation with other attorneys within the firm, and building relationships with clients. The ethical rules of law are sometimes sidelined by these everyday stresses. Even worse, seemingly conspicuous and straightforward ethical rules can be overlooked, ultimately damaging their ability to retain clients or build a solid reputation at a firm.

A review of ethical rules provides young lawyers with a comprehensive structure to practicing law. These rules can help guide them in developing their own practice or increased reliability in a firm, as well as building relationships with clients. This article provides a brief overview of a few ethical pitfalls for young lawyers and what strategies to avoid falling into these careerhampering holes.