Summer may be coming to an end, but whistleblower awards are far from over. On August 23, 2024, the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced payment of over $98 million total to two whistleblowers who provided the SEC with information that led to successful enforcement actions – the fifth largest since the program’s inception in 2011,
Ethics & Professional Responsibility
Vermont’s rule on disbursing “collected funds.”
Today’s Professional Responsibility Connections puzzle is here [1]
Continuing the “back to basics” theme, today’s discussion focuses on the duty not to disburse from trust without collected funds.
The duty is set out in V.R.Pr.C. 1.15(f)(1), which states that except as provided in paragraph (g):
- “a lawyer shall not disburse funds held for a
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Become extraordinary at the ordinary.
Today’s Professional Responsibility Connections puzzle is here. [1]
Regular readers likely don’t need a reminder that professional responsibility includes both maintaining our own wellness and looking out for the well-being of our colleagues. The Vermont Supreme Court said as much when it adopted Comment [9] to Rule 1.1.
I am well aware that it…
The duty to communicate: disabuse clients of unreasonable expectations. (Bonus: a new Professional Responsibility Connections game.)
Blogger’s note: Aided by hindsight, I decided that I’m not a fan of the Professional Responsibility Connections (PRC) game that I included with last week’s quiz. So, over the weekend, I created several new PRCs. I intend to try to include a PRConnections puzzle with each blog post. Today’s is here. [1]
Continuing with the…
Witnesses: Be Tough to Cross
By Dr. Ken Broda-Bahm:
Cross-examination is a big deal for a key witness. I’ve noticed in trial that it gets some added attentiveness from the jury. Knowing that they’re now seeing one side pitted directly against the other, jurors will sit forward a bit in their seats to see who gets the better end of…
Fired for Cause: @RepFitzgerald Asks for Conditional Redesignation of the MLC
By Chris Castle
U.S. Representative Scott Fitzgerald joined in the MLC review currently underway and sent a letter to Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter on August 29 regarding operational and performance issues relating to the MLC. The letter was in the context of the five year review for “redesignation” of The MLC, Inc. as the mechanical…
Professionalism Spotlight: Trent L. Bush, Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson, P.C.
By 2Civility
Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate the ideals of professionalism and a commitment to equitable, efficient, and effective justice.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke with Sterling, Ill.-based attorney Trent Bush. Serving a rural area, Trent has experience in most civil practice areas but has primarily focused on litigation in the…
Monday Morning Answers #306
Happy Monday!
Friday’s questions are here. Readers sent some great responses to the story about cases that make you say “I never thought I’d read that!!” I’ll share them later. For now, the answers follow today’s Honor Roll.
Honor Roll
- Karen Allen, Karen Allen Law
- Penny Benelli, Dakin & Benelli
- Anna Black,
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The ‘Madison Crusader’ Funnels Passion for Advocacy into Roosevelt University Legal Clinic
By Laura Bagby
A 10-year passion project recently came to fruition for Chicago attorney Jim Fine, when the Roosevelt University Legal Clinic (RULC) officially launched this summer.
RULC, which is being led by Fine, will begin by providing pro bono and low-cost basic legal services to Roosevelt’s students, faculty, and staff, and hopes to expand into the larger…
New Grant Aims to Improve Accessibility in Illinois Courts for People With Disabilities
By Laura Bagby
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission) and the Access to Justice Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) have announced a new grant initiative to support local courts in improving accessibility for people with disabilities.
The Disability Accessibility Improvement Grant will help Illinois courts bridge budget gaps…