Attorney Ethics on Television – Juries & Corporations

It is not a novel concept to state that the profession of law has lost the trust of the public. The public has lost faith not only in the lawyers, but also in the justice system. Juries are more skeptical of corporate defendants and their attorneys. Often, attorneys on fictional television shows exhibit unethical behavior at a disproportionate rate to their real-world counterparts. This program will review the depiction of lawyers on television from the debut of L.A. Law in 1986 through the present day’s Better Call Saul and track the devolution of attorney ethics over time. The program will examine the ethical implications of the actions taken by select main characters and how those actions comport with the Rules of Professional Conduct. It will also look at the messages that the character’s actions send to the general public and how those messages can shape expectations in a lawyer/juror and/or lawyer/client interaction. Additionally, the presentation will show examples of the negative depictions of corporate defendants and how those depictions can influence jury verdicts. Finally, it will explore possible solutions to combat the prejudices instilled by television.

Don’t miss out on this engaging program and get your Ethics credits!