Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam

[Pages:440]Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam

MPRE_Inside 2.2.12.indd 1

JOHN GARDINER PIEPER, J.D., LL.M. TROY GARDINER PIEPER, J.D. DAMIAN JOHN PIEPER, J.D.

PIEPER NEW YORK-MULTISTATE BAR REVIEW, LTD. 90 Willis Avenue Mineola, NY 11501 800.635.6569

2/2/12 10:53 AM

To Kristina

Copyright ? 2012 by John Gardiner Pieper, Esq. Troy Gardiner Pieper, Esq. Damian John Pieper, Esq.

MPRE_Inside 2.2.12.indd 2

2/2/12 10:53 AM

PREFACE

A passing grade on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is a requirement for admission to the Bar in all but three jurisdictions.

The MPRE tests a candidate's knowledge and ability to apply the American Bar Association (A.B.A.) Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the A.B.A. Model Code of Judicial Conduct, as well as controlling constitutional decisions, generally accepted principles established in leading federal and state cases, the Federal Rules of Evidence, and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The correct answer to questions testing concepts not specifically addressed by the A.B.A. Model Rules and Code of Judicial Conduct will be the view reflected in the majority of cases, statutes, or regulations on the subject.

The MPRE is written by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and administered every March, August and November at various locations, which likely include your law school, at least once per year. While you may take the exam anytime during law school or even after you sit for the bar exam (though you must pass the MPRE and the bar exam within three years of each other), we recommend taking it in conjunction with your ethics coursework in law school. This way, you will complete this bar admission requirement while the material is fresh in your memory. In addition, your preparation for the MPRE will serve you well on your law school ethics exam. Although you can sit for the MPRE as often as you like, as with any bar exam, one time is a charm. For test schedules, locations, and to apply to take the MPRE, visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners' website .

The MPRE consists of 60 multiple choice questions, each posing a fact pattern followed by four answer choices. The Bar Examiners give credit only for the "best" of those answer choices. Of the 60 questions, there are 50 scored questions and 10 non-scored pretest questions. Since the pretest questions are indistinguishable from those that are scored, it is important that you answer all of the questions on the examination. Your final score will be calculated based on how many scored questions you answer correctly. You will not be penalized for incorrect answers, so you will not want to leave any questions unanswered.

You must complete the examination within the two hour and five minute time limit. You will need to answer correctly approximately 35 of the scored questions to attain the total minimum passing scaled score of 85 required in New York. For the minimum passing scores required in other jurisdictions, visit your local bar examiners' website.

In preparing for the MPRE, you should attend the Pieper MPRE review (check for dates and locations), study your lecture notes, review the materials in the first eleven chapters of this text, and then complete the three practice examinations following Chapter 11. The A.B.A. Model Rules of Professional Conduct with the official comments are also an excellent resource if you can find time to read them before the exam. They are approximately 100 pages in length and are available on Lexis, Westlaw, and at law.cornell.edu/ethics/aba.

By following the Pieper program, you will be prepared to take and pass the MPRE and be that much closer to admission to the Bar and a promising career as an attorney. Best wishes in your future endeavors, and thank you for choosing to study with Pieper Bar Review.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I - REGULATION OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION.............................................1 A. COURTS' INHERENT POWER TO REGULATE LAWYERS' CONDUCT ........................ 1 B. ADMISSION TO PRACTICE ................................................................................................... 1 C. REGULATION AFTER ADMISSION ..................................................................................... 3

1. Discipline Generally ............................................................................................................ 3 2. Grounds for Discipline ........................................................................................................ 3 D. MAINTAINING PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS - PEER RESPONSIBILITY ................... 5 1. Reporting Misconduct - The "Squeal Rule" ........................................................................ 5 2. Lawyer's Duty of Supervision.............................................................................................7

a. Generally.........................................................................................................................7 b. Outsourcing.....................................................................................................................9 3. Choice of Law for Professional Misconduct ....................................................................... 9 E. MISREPRESENTATIONS......................................................................................................10 F. UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW .............................................................................. 11 1. Unauthorized Practice........................................................................................................11 2. Multijurisdictional Practice of Law ................................................................................... 12 3. "Practice of Law" Defined.................................................................................................14 4. Delegation of Authority ..................................................................................................... 14 5. Law Students and Paralegals ............................................................................................. 15 6. Do-It-Yourself Advice....................................................................................................... 16 7. Self-Representation by a Nonlawyer ................................................................................. 16 8. Partnerships with Nonlawyers ........................................................................................... 16 9. Businesses Providing Law-Related Services..................................................................... 17 10. Disbarred Lawyers............................................................................................................. 18 G. SHARING LEGAL FEES WITH NONLAWYERS ............................................................... 18 H. "OF COUNSEL" ...................................................................................................................... 20 I. SALE OF A LAW PRACTICE................................................................................................ 21 J. CHANGING FIRMS................................................................................................................ 22 K. RESTRICTING THE RIGHT TO PRACTICE LAW ............................................................. 23 1. Generally ........................................................................................................................... 23 2. Corporate Employee Confidentiality and Noncomplete Agreements ............................... 25 L. TERMINOLOGY..................................................................................................................... 27

CHAPTER II - THE CLIENT-LAWYER RELATIONSHIP .................................................. 29 A. ACCEPTANCE OF EMPLOYMENT ..................................................................................... 29

1. Generally............................................................................................................................ 29 2. Formation of Attorney-Client Relationship ....................................................................... 30 3. A Client Already Represented by Another Attorney......................................................... 30 4. Declining Employment ...................................................................................................... 30 5. Declining a Court Appointment......................................................................................... 31 B. SCOPE, OBJECTIVE, AND MEANS OF THE REPRESENTATION.................................. 32 C. CLIENT WITH DIMINISHED MENTAL CAPACITY ......................................................... 34 D. WITHDRAWAL FROM LEGAL EMPLOYMENT............................................................... 35

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1. Generally............................................................................................................................ 35 2. Client's Discharge of a Lawyer ......................................................................................... 35

a. Generally ....................................................................................................................... 35 b. Discharged Lawyer's Compensation............................................................................. 36 c. Client's Death ................................................................................................................ 36 d. Client's Objective Achieved.......................................................................................... 36 3. Mandatory Withdrawal by Attorney.................................................................................. 37 4. Permissive Withdrawal ...................................................................................................... 38 5. Lawyer's Duties upon Withdrawal .................................................................................... 40 E. FEES FOR LEGAL SERVICES .............................................................................................. 40 1. Determination of a Reasonable Fee ................................................................................... 40 2. Guides to Determine Fee's Reasonableness ...................................................................... 43 a. Criteria ........................................................................................................................... 43 b. Retainer Modification.................................................................................................... 44 c. Securing the Fee ............................................................................................................ 45 3. Contingent Fees ................................................................................................................. 45 a. Generally ....................................................................................................................... 45 b. Contingent Fees Prohibited in Domestic Relations and Criminal Cases....................... 47 4. Double Billing ................................................................................................................... 48 5. Fees Paid by Third Parties ................................................................................................. 49 6. Division of Fees Among Lawyers ..................................................................................... 49 7. Retaining Liens .................................................................................................................. 51 8. Charging Liens................................................................................................................... 52 9. Forbidden Client-Lawyer Arrangements ........................................................................... 53 10. Forfeiture of Legal Fee ...................................................................................................... 54 11. Collecting the Fee .............................................................................................................. 55 12. Third Party's Interest in a Client's Recovery .................................................................... 55 13. Arbitration of Legal Fee Disputes ..................................................................................... 55 14. Legal Expenses .................................................................................................................. 56

CHAPTER III - CONFIDENTIAL CLIENT INFORMATION .............................................. 57 A. ATTORNEY-CLIENT EVIDENTIARY PRIVILEGE ........................................................... 57

1. Generally............................................................................................................................ 57 2. Exceptions to the Privilege ................................................................................................ 62 3. Privilege for an Organization............................................................................................. 65 B. CONFIDENTIAL CLIENT INFORMATION ........................................................................ 67 1. Generally............................................................................................................................ 67 2. Inadvertent Disclosure ....................................................................................................... 68 3. Prospective Clients ............................................................................................................ 69 4. Client Files......................................................................................................................... 69 C. REVEALING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION................................................................ 70 1. Generally............................................................................................................................ 70 2. To Prevent Death or Substantial Bodily Harm .................................................................. 72 3. Fraud .................................................................................................................................. 73

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

a. Generally ....................................................................................................................... 73 b. Fraud on a Tribunal ....................................................................................................... 74 c. Fraud on Third Parties ................................................................................................... 77 d. Perjury ........................................................................................................................... 78 4. Non-Confidential Client Documents ................................................................................. 79 5. Fee Payment Disclosure .................................................................................................... 80 6. Identity of a Client ............................................................................................................. 81 7. Fugitive Clients.................................................................................................................. 81 8. Evidence of Past Crimes .................................................................................................... 82 9. Joint Representation........................................................................................................... 83 10. Non-class Action Aggregate Settlements .......................................................................... 84 11. Fiduciary Exception........................................................................................................... 85 12. To Seek Ethical Advice ..................................................................................................... 86 13. Corporate Attorney's Duty of Disclosure.......................................................................... 86 D. ATTORNEY'S WORK PRODUCT IMMUNITY .................................................................. 87 E. ATTORNEY'S PERMISSIBLE DISCLOSURE OF CLIENT CONFIDENCES................... 89

CHAPTER IV - CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.......................................................................... 91 A. CONFLICT WITH AN ATTORNEY'S OWN PERSONAL INTEREST .............................. 91 B. THE LAWYER AS A WITNESS............................................................................................ 92 C. REFUNDING OF LEGAL FEES UPON WITHDRAWAL ................................................... 93 D. ACQUIRING AN INTEREST IN LITIGATION.................................................................... 94 E. ATTORNEY'S BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS WITH A CLIENT ....................................... 95 F. CONFLICTS WITH CURRENT OR FORMER CLIENTS.................................................... 96

1. Conflict with Current Clients............................................................................................. 96 a. Generally ....................................................................................................................... 96 b. Conflicts in Civil Litigation......................................................................................... 100 c. Conflicts in Criminal Cases ......................................................................................... 103 d. Non-Litigation Matters ................................................................................................ 105 e. Literary or Media Rights ............................................................................................. 105

2. Duties to Former Clients.................................................................................................. 106 3. Prospective Clients .......................................................................................................... 109

a. Generally ..................................................................................................................... 109 b. Exceptions ................................................................................................................... 110

i. Consent to a Conflict ......................................................................................... 110 ii. Lawyer's Good Faith Attempt to the Limit Information Received ................... 111 4. Representing an Organization.......................................................................................... 111 5. Conflict of Interest of Government Lawyers ................................................................... 112 a. Former Government Lawyers...................................................................................... 112 b. Public Employees Who Are Lawyers - Conflicts With Official Duties...................... 114 6. Conflicts of a Former Judge, Mediator or Former Neutral Arbitrator............................. 115 7. Short-Term Nonprofit Legal Service Programs .............................................................. 115 8. Screening Procedures to Avoid Imputed Disqualification .............................................. 116 G. INFLUENCE BY NON-CLIENTS........................................................................................ 117

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