Ethics/Professional Responsibility,
Law Practice
Jun. 17, 2010
The Art of Gracious Disagreement
Effective advocacy should include the critical component of civility, writes Wendy Patrick of the San Diego District Attorney's Office.
Wendy L. Patrick
Wendy is a California lawyer, past chair and advisor of the California State Bar Ethics Committee (Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct), and past chair of the San Diego County Bar Association Legal Ethics Committee. Any opinions expressed here are her own, and do not reflect that of her employer. This article does not constitute legal advice.
The effectiveness of our adversarial legal system is greatly enhanced through the combination of talent and temperament. The mark of a fine lawyer is the ability to gain both reverence and respect through effective advocacy combined with civility and fair play. This combination decreases animosity in the courtroom, promotes good faith negotiation, and will ultimately both benefit clients and improve the public perception of the profession.
Effective advocacy should include the...
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