Systematically Thinking about Law Firm Ethics: Conference on the Ethical Infrastructure and Culture of Law Firms
Academic Article
Overview
Research
Identity
Additional Document Info
View All
Overview
abstract
To advance the discourse related to law firm ethics and the impact of formal controls and informal influences on lawyer conduct, we convened on April 5, 2013 the Conference on the Ethical Infrastructure and Culture of Law Firms ("Conference" or "Symposium"). The Conference, conducted under the auspices of the Hofstra Law Review and the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University's Institute for the Study of Legal Ethics, was funded in part by the Abraham J. Gross '78 Conference and Lecture Fund at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. Experts who have studied issues related to law firm ethics, culture, governance, and lawyer conduct participated in the program and contributed Articles to this Symposium Issue of the Hofstra Law Review.The message from these studies is clear-law firms are a "research rich" environment for study. As researchers explore new empirical projects, they should collaborate with representatives from law firms, regulators, malpractice insurers, and other stakeholders in identifying issues to study and designing research models to yield meaningful results.' O' We are delighted that the Conference on the Ethical Infrastructure and Culture of Law Firms provided a forum for scholars, regulators, and practitioners to exchange observations and consider issues that merit additional research and examination.On a go-forward basis, we also hope that the Symposium Articles published in connection with the Conference on the Ethical Infrastructure and Culture of Law Firms inspire further examination by scholars, regulators, and practitioners committed to improving lawyers' ethical conduct. Thanks to the participants in the Conference, the Abraham J. Gross '78 Conference and Lecture Fund, and the Hofstra Law Review for their contributions and support in advancing the understanding of the impact of ethical infrastructure, ethical culture, and organizational culture on how lawyers discharge their responsibilities and balance their duties to clients, the courts, and each other.
