New Ethics Rules for the Environmental Lawyer
2.0 MCLE Credits in Ethics

This program reviews the revised Rules of Professional Conduct and selected opinions of the Courts and the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Professional Conduct as they relate to the practice of environmental law.

Program Agenda

I.  Fundamental Principles
  A. Diligence
  B. Competence
  C. Identification of Practice Area

II.  Communicating
  A. Truthfulness
  B. Communicating with Represented Parties
   1.  Rule 4.2
   2.  Opinion 463
   3.  Who is a Party?
   4.  Contacts Otherwise Authorized by Law
    a.  Opinion 404
    b.  Opinion 812
    c.  ABA 97-408
   5.  What is Communication?
    a.  Attendance at a Meeting
    b.  Advising Client in Presence of Third Party
    c.  Stating the Legal Position of a Government Agency
    d.  Explaining Application Process for Government Agency
   6.  Unsolicited Communication

  C. Communication with Unrepresented Parties
   1.  Rule 4.3
   2.  Initial Communication to a Party Not Known to be Represented (Op. 607)
   3.  Duty of Inquiry (Opinion 768)
   4.  Communicating with Constituents of Organizational Clients
   5.  Unresponsive Opposing Counsel

III.  Conflicts of Interest

  A. Rule 1.11 Conflicts
   1.  Rule 1.11(a) – Disqualification of Former Government Attorneys
   2.  Rule 1.11(b) – Disqualification of Firm Employing Former Government Attorney
   3.  Rule 1.11(c) – Information Obtained as Government Attorney
   4.  Rule 1.11(d) – Former Private Attorney in Government
    a.  An Attorney Who Prosecutes May Not Provide Criminal Defense
    b.  Prosecutors Participating in Political Activity

  B. Rule 1.13 Organizational Clients

Speakers
Randall C. Young, Esq., NYSDEC Region 6 Attorney
Yvonne E. Marciano, Esq., The West Firm, PLLC

This program was recorded on April 29, 2009.