Chapter 8: Miscellaneous Ethics Issues
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Chapter 8: Miscellaneous Ethics Issues
Web Links
Mistakes Happen
Not only do lawyers and paralegals—every now and then—make mistakes, but so do other professionals. Journalism makes enough errors to warrant its own Web site. The following Web site keeps track of mistakes made by journalists: http://www.regrettheerror.com/.
Urban Legends are Fun and Hurtful
Why would someone believe that a woman filed a lawsuit because she got pregnant after putting contraceptive jelly on toast and then having sex? In our hyper-litigious culture, it seems not that far-fetched, despite being inane. Urban legends are so appealing that Web sites have been created to keep track of them. Some urban legends, like the one mentioned in the chapter are harmless, while others (accusing Mr. Rogers of being a pedophile, accusing Starbucks of refusing to give coffee to the troops in Iraq) are defamatory. The best urban legends Web site can be found at: http://www.snopes.com/.
More on Frivolous Lawsuits
Maybe we need to think of a new adjective, because “frivolous” might be an inadequate description of the groundless suits that eat up precious resources and time. The following
Web site offers its own take on the high costs of litigation and frivolous lawsuits, commenting on what it believes are frivolous lawsuits: http://overlawyered.com/. More on the Duke Lacrosse Injustice
There are too many Web sites that have chronicled all that has happened in the Duke
Lacrosse—Mike Nifong scandal. Two are worth mentioning. The Smoking Gun’s Web site has many of the official documents filed in the case: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/. And there is an immense blog run by a history professor that chronicles everything connected to the initial prosecution, and the related disbarment proceedings against Mike Nifong, as well as provides links to other Web sources on the matter: http://durhamwonderland.blogspot.com/.
Pro Bono and the ABA
The ABA has a Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Services. It has a stated mission and “is the national source of information, resources and assistance to support, facilitate, and expand the delivery of pro bono legal assistance.” The following Web site links to the ABA’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, which includes the Center for Pro Bono: http://www.abanet.org/.
The Pro Bono Institute
The Pro Bono Institute is part of the Georgetown Law Center. It provides information, resources, and support to those in and out of the legal profession who want to expand low cost legal services to the poor: http://www.probonoinst.org/. Pro Bono and NFPA
The National Federation of Paralegal Associations is actively involved in promoting pro bono services, as can be found on the NFPA Web site: http://www.paralegals.org/.