Research the Virginia State Bar website and/or other sites to locate two (2) disciplinary (or civil/criminal) cases: one regarding a lawyer, and one involving a nonlawyer, both in Virginia. Write a 3-4 page paper summarizing and analyzing the cases given what you’ve learned about legal ethics this term.
Your paper may be single-, 1.5, or double-spaced, should include page numbers, and a references/bibliography list at the end of your paper on a separate page (does not count toward total page-count); be certain to include citations to any websites you looked to and sources of law (i.e., state or model professional rules of conduct, case law, statutes, etc.), and to utilize appropriate legal citation format.
Identify and discuss the ethical violations addressed in your chosen cases, including the facts surrounding the applicable duty and how such was breached. Was the legal professional’s breach of ethical duty based on an action/commission or an inaction/omission? What disciplinary sanction was applied? For each duty noticed, mention in the body of your paper the appropriate rule of professional conduct, as well as cite separately in your references section. You may look to either or both Virginia’s or the ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct for support.
Also, write about the following: