Challenges and Guidance for Lawyering in a Global Society

This foreword provides an overview of some key aspects of law practice that have changed over the last thirty years. Advancements in technology that allow communication and interaction across borders have facilitated lawyers in globalizing their practice locality. Consequently, new issues regarding comparative ethics have arisen. This foreword suggests that ethics rules have not kept pace with the changing landscape of law practice and uses current standards for advanced waivers, rules relating to contracts with represented and unrepresented persons, and the proper use of ethics rules in civil litigation to illustrate this point. This foreword raises concern over the erosion of the attorney-client privilege and lawyer independence. This foreword acknowledges that legal malpractice law continues to be a developing body of law. Finally, this foreword warns of the potential ethical traps for lawyers representing family members and the need for more guidance in this area