| Professional Responsibility |
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| After passing the bar examination, an attorney is admitted to the state bar and allowed to practice law in that state. An attorney takes an oath of office. After being admitted to the bar, an attorney's conduct is regulated by the Lawyer's Code of Professional Responsibility. Every state has adopted some form of the Code, which sets minimum standards for an attorney's actions. The Code consists of three parts: Canons, Ethical Considerations, and Disciplinary Rules.
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| Unbundled Legal Services |
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| In October 2000, a national conference was held on unbundled legal services. A website, www.unbundledlaw.org, was created by the Maryland Legal Assistance Network as a result of the conference. Unbundled legal services, also called limited scope legal assistance, provide a new model for legal representation for low and moderate income individuals. A client (usually a pro se or self-representing client) hires an attorney to perform a specific task or tasks for the client. The client represents himself/herself in all other aspects of the case. More... |
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| The Courts and Community Relations |
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| A 1999 national survey conducted by the National Center for States Courts in Williamsburg, Virginia, revealed that almost half of all American citizens thought the courts were out of touch with the surrounding community. This number increased to two-thirds among African-Americans who were surveyed. As a result, collaborative programs between the community and state courts are becoming more common. The goal is to foster the average citizen's understanding of the judiciary and to build public trust in the court system.
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| Appeal of a United States District Court Judgment |
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| The party who loses in a civil lawsuit can file an appeal after a United States District Court, a federal trial court, enters a final judgment in the case. The notice of appeal must be filed with the district court clerk within 30 days after the judgment. The person filing the appeal is called the appellant, and the other party is called the appellee. More... |
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| Judicial Ethics |
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| One of the cornerstones of our American judicial system is the impartial administration of justice. It is crucial that a judge act fairly and impartially, avoiding any appearance of impropriety. Every state has adopted a code of judicial conduct that sets ethical guidelines for judges. All states also have judicial conduct commissions with the power to investigate, prosecute, and decide cases of judicial misconduct. There is also a code of conduct for federal judges. More... |
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