Ethical Issues Associated with Trial Practice
Overview
Mike Zogby, products liability and mass tort partner in Florham Park, gave an ethics presentation as part of “Bridge the Gap,” a two-day continuing legal education program at Fordham University School of Law in New York City. Mike’s presentation, titled “Ethical Issues Associated with Trial Practice,” addressed the Rules of Professional Conduct, pre-trial fact investigation, the duty of candor to the tribunal, ethics associated with social media, researching judges and juries, and trial publicity. He also discussed the New York and New Jersey attorney ethics disciplinary systems, updates on New Jersey disciplinary statistics, and the July 2016 changes to the New York system. He provided real examples of disciplinary sanctions, and explained how those sanctions were imposed by the disciplinary committees. Mike outlined the ethical minefields that exist, how to avoid those minefields, and what happens if the rules are broken, including a discussion of trial pitfalls and corporate due diligence challenges. Florham Park litigation associate Kevin DeMaio assisted Mike with the research and presentation.