Staying Informed - Law Institute of Victoria

Michael Dolan and Carly Erwin 01 Sep 2021

Legal ethics will continue to be challenged by the rapid advance of artificial intelligence. Moral judgment will always be needed by lawyers when faced with questions about ethical obligations in practice. This cannot be replaced by AI.

Ethics Technology

Ethics: The lawyer-fiduciary

Gino Dal Pont 01 Aug 2021

Some practitioners lack understanding of fiduciary law and its implications, despite it going to the core of legal practice.

Ethics Finance Practice & Procedure

Ethics: Supervise me

Carly Erwin 01 Jul 2021

A solicitor with designated responsibility for a matter must exercise reasonable supervision over solicitors and all other employees engaged in the provision of legal services for that matter.

Ethics Practice & Procedure Practice Management

Ethics: Frank and fearless

Donna Cooper and Michael Dolan 01 Jun 2021

There are some unique ethical challenges that government lawyers may face.

Ethics

Ethics Committee rulings: Material witness

LIV Ethics Committee 01 Jun 2021

Ethical dilemmas are part of everyday practice for solicitors. The Ethics Committee is available to help.

Ethics Practice & Procedure

Ethics: ‘Me Too’ on the character radar

Gino Dal Pont 01 Jun 2021

Explicitly bringing sexual harassment into the fold of professional discipline reflects a change in character inquiry.

Ethics Practice & Procedure

Ethics: Dealing with self-represented litigants

Carly Erwin 01 May 2021

A solicitor must be conscious of their competing ethical duties to the court and the administration of justice, their client and the self-represented litigant.

Ethics Practice & Procedure

VLSB+C: Take a step back

Fiona McLeay 01 May 2021

Lawyers must maintain professional boundaries.

Ethics Practice & Procedure Practice Management Professional Reputation

Ethics: Think before you tweet

Gino Dal Pont 01 Apr 2021

Lawyers who exercise their freedom of speech via tweeting secure no immunity from the professional consequences of offensive comments.

Ethics Practice & Procedure

Ethics: Terminating a retainer

Carly Erwin 01 Mar 2021

A solicitor has a common law and ethical duty to complete a client engagement, and may only terminate it in accordance with their legal and ethical obligations.

Ethics Practice & Procedure

Reputation: Matters of trust

Carolyn Ford 01 Feb 2021

In the wake of the Lawyer X scandal, Royal Commission recommendations around conduct of lawyers include strengthening access to ethical support.

Ethics Practice & Procedure

Ethics: Lawyers and ‘alternative facts’

Gino Dal Pont 01 Feb 2021

Attacking the reputation of another person without adequate foundation, including by alleging fraud or criminality, can expose a lawyer to disciplinary sanction.

Ethics Practice & Procedure