Ethics/Professional Responsibility
Mar. 5, 2024
Ethical restrictions on using confidential government information
Rule 1.11 is relevant for contemporary lawyers who explore new career options within the modern economy and legal climate, and who may acquire confidential government information from various sources and roles.
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.
Contemporary lawyers acquire a wide variety of experience as they move through their careers, which often include periods of government service. As they gain information and knowledge representing a wide variety of clients, there may come a point where specific confidential information becomes an issue in a new case, leaving lawyers thinking to themselves, how do I know that? Pursuant to the ABA’s latest ethics opinion, that is a good question.
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