Name That Rule
Truthfulness in statements to others.
What is Rule 4.1?
This TV show features a lawyer practicing without a license—an entire series built on unauthorized practice.
What is suits
Rule 5.5
A lawyer receiving payment for representation from a parent or spouse must still represent only this person.
Who is the client themselves—never the payer?
Rule 1.8(f).
"You can't handle the truth!" ties to this ethical duty
What is candor to the tribunal (Rule 3.3)?
Law & Order often shows prosecutors turning over exculpatory evidence. Under PR, this is required by this rule.
What is Rule 3.8(d)? (Brady)
Communication with represented persons.
What is Rule 4.2?
in this show, Jimmy McGill fabricates evidence and runs sketchy commercials
What is Better Call Saul?
7.1 (advertising), 3.3 & 3.4 (false evidence).
A lawyer switching firms is screened off from a matter they worked on for a former client. This prevents this type of conflict.
What is an imputed conflict?
Lawyers can grant opposing counsel reasonable extensions, so long as this condition is met.
What is no material prejudice to the client?
When a prosecutor’s main witness dies, they must reassess this before proceeding.
What is probable cause / evidence sufficiency?
The rule governing conflicts with current clients.
What is Rule 1.7?
In The Good Wife, lawyers constantly switch firms and run into former-client conflicts. What rule should they be VERY careful of
What is Rule 1.9 (successive conflicts)?
In Erin Brockovich, Erin contacts people who might be represented by corporate counsel. This implicates this rule.
What is Rule 4.2 (communication with represented persons)?
A lawyer serving as both advocate and key witness violates this rule.
What is Rule 3.7 (lawyer as witness)?
A prosecutor making inflammatory press statements violates rules on…
What is prejudicial pretrial publicity (Rule 3.6)?
This rule governs advertising and preventing misleading claims of specialization.
What is Rule 7.1 or 7.4?
In a well-known scene from Better Call Saul, Jimmy takes possession of incriminating property to “help” a client—even though keeping it may interfere with an ongoing investigation.
What ethical issue does this raise?
What is the prohibition on hiding, altering, or obstructing access to physical evidence (Rule 3.4)?
A lawyer receives a bag of drugs from a worried parent. The lawyer MUST do this with physical evidence.
What is turn it over to authorities / cannot alter, destroy, or hide it?
A judge holds a lawyer in contempt for dress code, lateness, and disrespect—this relates to which set of duties?
What are the duties of decorum / professionalism?
Government lawyers who worked on legislation cannot later do this regarding the law they helped draft.
What is represent private clients challenging that legislation?
Organizational clients and reporting up.
What is Rule 1.13?
This legal drama frequently shows lawyers coaching witnesses to the edge of impropriety, then crossing it.
What is How to Get Away with Murder?
3.4(b) witness prep
A lawyer representing multiple defendants in a criminal matter risks violating which core PR rule?
What is Rule 1.7 (concurrent conflicts)?
Giving the tribunal false statements or failing to correct known false evidence violates this rule.
What is Rule 3.3 (candor to the tribunal)?
A reversal based solely on professional responsibility violations almost always requires this constitutional element.
What is a Brady violation or due process violation?