Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls: Client Relationships, Conflicts of Interest, and Malpractice Prevention

Credits in

General Icons 1.00 General

Practice Areas:

Attorney Well-Being, Business and Corporation, Ethics, Law Practice Management, Legal Research & Writing, Other, Paralegal, Professional Development, Professional Responsibility

Icon About This Course

Ethics violations can derail even the most skilled legal career. This course delivers clear, practical strategies for attorneys in every practice area and at every career stage to meet professional responsibility requirements, protect their reputations, and reduce malpractice risk.

Attendees will learn how to start client relationships on a solid ethical foundation, apply proven techniques to prevent and resolve conflicts of interest, and implement safeguards to minimize liability exposure. The course blends practical tips, real-world scenarios, and in-depth analysis of key ABA Model Rules to ensure participants can confidently navigate complex ethical terrain while upholding the highest standards of the profession.

This course is designed for attorneys with any level of experience interested in ensuring they are maintaining legal ethical standards.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Establish ethical client relationships using best practices that align with professional standards.
  2. Draft and review engagement letters that clearly define scope, responsibilities, and fee structures.
  3. Recognize and address conflicts of interest with current, former, and prospective clients.
  4. Adopt preventive measures to reduce the risk of malpractice claims and disciplinary action.


Production Date: 9/12/2025 | Closed captioning (CC) available

About the Presenters

Edward Clinton, Jr., Esq.

The Clinton Law Firm

Practice Area: Litigation (+ 4 other areas)

Twenty-Five Years of Experience in Commercial and Malpractice LitigationEd Clinton, Jr. is a principal in the Clinton Law Firm and focuses his practice on business litigation and legal malpractice. In 1991, Ed graduated, cum laude, from Harvard Law School. He was a law clerk to the Honorable Michael S. Kanne of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit from September 1991 to September 1992. From 1992 to May 1996, he worked as a commercial litigation associate at Mayer, Brown & Platt. After working at Katten Muchin & Zavis, Ed joined the Clinton Law Firm in 1997 as ...

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