Legal Ethics is Especially Important in Hard Times

My blog this week finishes my interview on ethics called There Can Be No Justice Unless Lawyers Maintain High Ethical Standards. Ethics is not just Boy Scout stuff; it is the foundation of the whole legal system. It is important and I hope everyone will take the time to hear this out and read the blog. We all know that not every lawyer and e-discovery vendor is ethical, but most are. Don't let hard times tempt you to the dark side or you may end up all withered and boxed in like Darth Vader. 

When times are tough economically the lure of money makes it all too easy to be tempted to the dark side. Don't do it. These tough times will pass, but your reputation is forever. Don't take shortcuts and bend the rules. Don't take advantage of people. Above all, resist the temptation to churn and drag things out just to make a profit. Don't feed the flames of a dispute to make more money for yourself. Instead, figure out how to cooperate. I call it strategic cooperation and it comes out of a position of strength, not weakness. For more, see my article: There Can Be No Justice Unless Lawyers Maintain High Ethical Standards.