BAR OKS CODE OF CIVILITY.Byline: David Greenberg The creator of this article, or someone who has substantially contributed to it, may have a conflict of interest regarding its subject matter. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Staff Writer In an effort to enhance its credibility and protect clients from the possible financial consequences of questionable legal tactics, the Ventura County Bar Association has adopted its first civility code. The bar's 23-member board unanimously approved a seven-page set of guidelines guidelines, n.pl a set of standards, criteria, or specifications to be used or followed in the performance of certain tasks. to discourage what one board member said was a ``small minority'' of lawyers from using shoddy shod·dy adj. shod·di·er, shod·di·est 1. Made of or containing inferior material. 2. a. Of poor quality or craft. b. Rundown; shabby. 3. tactics to fight their cases. ``We don't think our lawyers are bad lawyers,'' said Michael Case, president-elect of the volunteer organization. ``But there are some lawyers who stray from what other lawyers believe are recognized rules of civility. ``What we've tried to do is clearly state those principals so that we can get compliance by all lawyers.'' The civility code applies to all criminal, civil and nontrial cases. It's provisions include: Do not wait until Friday afternoon to file a complicated motion, forcing the opposing lawyer to spend the weekend drafting a response. Do not make a case so expensive that the other side is forced to drop out. Do not bury the opposition in a mountain of interrogatories Written questions submitted to a party from his or her adversary to ascertain answers that are prepared in writing and signed under oath and that have relevance to the issues in a lawsuit. and written questions in an effort to place an undue burden on that client. ``It's lawyers saying to the community and to their fellow lawyers that we have high expectations of ourselves and that these are the kinds of standards that you should expect,'' said Case, who chairs the bar's ethics committee ethics committee A multidisciplinary hospital body composed of a broad spectrum of personnel–eg, physicians, nurses, social workers, priests, and others, which addresses the moral and ethical issues within the hospital. See DNR, Institutional review board. , which drafted the code. ``I think it enhances credibility.'' Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. lawyer Alyse Lazar, who spent 10 of her 18 years at the State Bar of California as assistant chief trial council, said civility is sorely sore·ly adv. 1. Painfully; grievously. 2. Extremely; greatly: Their skills were sorely needed. needed. ``I've dealt with a higher end Coordinates: For other places with the same name, see Billinge. Higher End or Billinge Higher End is a district of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. of misconduct,'' she said. ``There are some attorneys out there that are below that radar screen. They don't do anything that gets them in trouble with the (state) bar. However, their actions create havoc with the courts and dealing with opposing counsel on cases.'' Violating the codes does not carry any punishment, unlike the Code of Professional Conduct adopted by the State Bar of California and the California Supreme Court. ``But we believe that by putting it in writing, it will have a stronger impact on those who might have forgotten the rules or those who might be tempted to do something differently,'' Case said. ``It's more a matter of peer pressure than it is a matter of discipline. It's also helpful to new lawyers who haven't learned those customs yet.'' |
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