I. Treat with civility all persons with whom you come into professional contact, including the lawyers, clients, opposing parties, staff persons, and Court personnel. Professional courtesy is compatible with vigorous advocacy and zealous representation.

II. Communications are lifelines. Keep the lines open. Telephone calls and correspondence are a two-way channel; respond to them promptly.

III. Respect other lawyers’ schedules as your own. Seek agreement on meetings, depositions, hearings and trial dates. A reasonable request for scheduling accommodation should never be unreasonably refused. Be punctual in appointments, communications and in honoring scheduled appearances. Neglect and tardiness are demeaning to others and to the judicial system.

IV. Procedural rules are necessary for judicial order and decorum. Pleadings, discovery processes and motions cost time and money and should not be used unnecessarily. If an adversary is entitled to something, provide it without unnecessary formalities.

V. Grant extensions of time when they are reasonable and when they will not have a material, adverse effect on your client’s interest.

VI. Resolve differences through negotiation, expeditiously and without needless expense.

VII. The case is the clients not the lawyers. Don’t become too eager to prove your superiority to your opponent or to redress some real or imagined personal grievance. Your goal is to obtain what is ultimately best for your client not what is worse for the other side.

VIII. Maintain and expand your knowledge of the current law in the areas of your practice. Help younger or less experienced members of the Bar to develop skills and give generously of your own time if asked to participate on panels and in workshops.

IX. Discourage or out rightly reject client tactics based solely on revenge or bitterness.

X. Discourage the image of greed or lack of conscience within the legal community by participating in civic activities which carry no monetary benefit to the lawyer.

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