DESCRIPTION
Barely Competent = Fully Disbarred: Doing the Bare Minimum Leads to Maximum Exposure
In a profession obsessed with prestige, it's easy to focus on the tailored suit and the mahogany desk while neglecting the actual engine of the practice. But as many a disciplined attorney has discovered, looking the part is only half the battle; and it's the half that doesn't keep you from losing your license. In this hilarious yet sobering webinar, legal humorist Sean Carter explores the mathematical certainty that "barely competent" behavior eventually equals "fully disbarred" results.
Using humor, Sean deconstructs Rule 1.1 into its four essential pillars: (1) Knowledge, (2) Skill, (3) Thoroughness, and (4) Preparation. Through a rapid-fire review of real-world disciplinary files, this program serves as a critical reminder that while the state bars set the minimum standard for entry, the disciplinary boards have a very different definition of "adequate."
In this unusual and fast-paced presentation, lawyers will learn:
- How the four pillars of competence (Knowledge, Skill, Thoroughness, and Preparation) provide the structural integrity for a diligent practice and the symbiosis between Rules 1.1 and 1.3.
- The ethical dangers of accepting matters in unfamiliar practice areas without acquiring the necessary legal knowledge.
- The mandatory duty to stay abreast of the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology under Rule 1.1, Comment 8, and why blaming a software glitch is not a valid disciplinary defense.
- How to identify the warning signs of "ghosting" and how to distinguish between a heavy caseload and professional abandonment.
- Why a simple mistake combined with a lack of diligence often leads to the inevitable spiral of the cover-up, involving career-ending acts of dishonesty and fabrication.
- Why delegating the "bare minimum" to staff without adequate oversight is a high-risk gamble that leaves the attorney's license (and livelihood) exposed under Rule 5.3.
- How a lack of temperance and civility in court can be interpreted as a lack of fundamental legal skill, framing professionalism as a core competency.
Disclaimer: All views or opinions expressed by any presenter during the course of this CLE is that of the presenter alone and not an opinion of the Oklahoma Bar Association, the employers, or affiliates of the presenters unless specifically stated. Additionally, any materials, including the legal research, are the product of the individual contributor, not the Oklahoma Bar Association. The Oklahoma Bar Association makes no warranty, express or implied, relating to the accuracy or content of these materials.