Massachusetts Lawyer
Massachusetts Court System Press Release - May 10, 2005
Boston --- The Supreme Judicial Court today announced that it has invited the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Professional Discipline to provide a consultation visit and report on the lawyer discipline system of Massachusetts. Under the program, a team, consisting of a member of the Standing Committee, an experienced disciplinary counsel, and lawyers from the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility visit a jurisdiction, interview those with a role in the state’s disciplinary system, and make recommendations designed to assist in the administration of the system. ... [Read More]
Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
Supreme Judicial Court Public Information Office Press Release - Supreme Judicial Court Invites American Bar Association Team to Study Massachusetts Lawyer Discipline System ... [Read More]
Board of Bar Overseers / Office of the Bar Counsel
Site Index Home Board of Bar Overseers Office of the Bar Counsel Attorney-Client Assistance Program Clients' Security Board What’s New Employment Opportunities Upcoming Public Hearings How to File a Complaint Registration Department Look Up a Lawyer Change your Address Ethical Questions & Articles Rules Disciplinary Decisions since 1999 Search this Site Lawyer Referral Services Links and Resources ... The Board of Bar Overseers and the Office of the Bar Counsel were established by the Supreme Judicial Court in 1974 as independent administrative bodies to investigate and evaluate complaints against lawyers. Although both the Board and Bar Counsel are official bodies subject to the supervision of the Supreme Judicial Court, no public funds are spent to support them. The Bar Counsel's and the Board's expenses come solely from the annual registration fees paid by lawyers. ... [Read More]
MBA: The Lawyer Referral Service of the Massachusetts Bar Association
When you call the Lawyer Referral Service, in the Boston area at (617) 654-0400 and free outside of Boston at (800) 392-6164, a Lawyer Referral Service representative will speak to you to determine whether you require the services of a lawyer. Be prepared to briefly describe your situation so that the Lawyer Referral Service representative can determine what kind of assistance you need. The Lawyer Referral Service does not provide free legal service or give out legal advice. If the Lawyer Referral Service representative determines that you need the help of a lawyer, you will be given the name, address and telephone number of a lawyer. It is your responsibility to contact the lawyer directly. The Lawyer Referral Service will take your name and address, but will only provide your name to the lawyer. You will not be contacted directly by the lawyer. ... [Read More]
Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
Supreme Judicial Court Public Information Office Press Release - Supreme Judicial Court Invites American Bar Association Team to Study Massachusetts Lawyer Discipline System ... [Read More]
Chapter 7 - Rules of Professional Conduct
(f) A lawyer shall not give anything of value to any person or organization to solicit professional employment for the lawyer from a prospective client. However, this rule does not prohibit a lawyer or a partner or associate or any other lawyer affiliated with the lawyer or the lawyer's firm from requesting referrals from a lawyer referral service operated, sponsored, or approved by a bar association or from cooperating with any other qualified legal assistance organization. Such requests for referrals or cooperation may include a sharing of fee awards as provided in Rule 5.4(a)(4). ... [Read More]
Chapter 1 - Rules of Professional Conduct
[12C] As to the duty of confidentiality, while each client may assert that the lawyer keep something in confidence between the lawyer and the client, which is not to be disclosed to the other client, each client should be advised at the outset of the joint representation that making such a request will, in all likelihood, make it impossible for the lawyer to continue the joint representation. This is so because the lawyer has an equal duty of loyalty to each client. Each client has a right to expect that the lawyer will tell the client anything bearing on the representation that might affect that client's interests and that the lawyer will use that information to that client's benefit. But the lawyer cannot do this if the other client has sworn the lawyer to secrecy about any such matter. Thus, for the lawyer to proceed would be in derogation of the trust of the other client. To avoid this situation, at the outset of the joint representation the lawyer should advise both (or all) clien ... [Read More]
How to File a Complaint
You should not expect the Office of the Bar Counsel or the Board of Bar Overseers to provide legal services or advice. If you wish tobe referred to a lawyer you might contact the Massachusetts Bar AssociationLawyer Referral Service at (617) 654-0400 in Boston or (866) MASSLRS whichis (866) 627-7577 or the Boston Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at(617) 742-0625. The lawyers at the Office of the Bar Counsel do not andcannot represent you personally in the matters of which you complain. ... [Read More]
Chapter 3 - Rules of Professional Conduct
(e) In a criminal case, defense counsel who knows that the defendant, the client, intends to testify falsely may not aid the client in constructing false testimony, and has a duty strongly to discourage the client from testifying falsely, advising that such a course is unlawful, will have substantial adverse consequences, and should not be followed. If a lawyer discovers this intention before accepting the representation of the client, the lawyer shall not accept the representation; if the lawyer discovers this intention before trial, the lawyer shall seek to withdraw from the representation, requesting any required permission. Disclosure of privileged or prejudicial information shall be made only to the extent necessary to effect the withdrawal. If disclosure of privileged or prejudicial information is necessary, the lawyer shall make an application to withdraw ex parte to a judge other than the judge who will preside at the trial and shall seek to be heard in camera and have the reco ... [Read More]
Index to the Rules of Professional Conduct
Site Index Home Board of Bar Overseers Office of the Bar Counsel Attorney-Client Assistance Program Clients' Security Board What’s New Employment Opportunities Upcoming Public Hearings How to File a Complaint Registration Department Look Up a Lawyer Change your Address Ethical Questions & Articles Rules Disciplinary Decisions since 1999 Search this Site Lawyer Referral Services Links and Resources ... Rule 5.1 Responsibilities of a Partner or Supervisory Lawyer ... [Read More]
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