Lawyer Survival Skills: Professionalism Resources

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* 1. Have you experienced uncivil or unprofessional behavior in last six months?

Yes

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* 2. If you checked “Yes” above, select all that apply:

Inappropriate comments about a lawyer's age or experience

Racially or culturally insensitive comments

Sexist comments

Inappropriate interruptions of others (e.g., clients, colleagues, counsel, judges, witnesses)

Sarcastic or condescending attitude

Inappropriate language or comments in letters or email

Swearing, verbal abuse or belittling language

Indiscriminate or frivolous use of drafts, pleadings or motions

Playing hardball (such as not agreeing to reasonable requests for extensions)

Inflammatory writings in correspondence, memos, briefs or motions

Misrepresenting or stretching the facts, or negotiating in bad faith

Other (please specify)

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* 3. When another lawyer acts unprofessionally or uncivilly toward you, what is your typical reaction most of the time?

Choose civil ways to address the behavior (such as reframing, or providing constructive feedback)

Ignore it

Tend to be uncivil in return

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Where do you look for resources on how to respond to unprofessional or uncivil lawyers? (Select All That Apply)

CLE Programs

Bar Association Resources (i.e. CBA Professionalism Coordinating Council or Peer Professionalism Assistance Group)

Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct

Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel

Ethics Opinions

Mentor/Peer/Partner

Colorado Lawyer Assistance Program (COLAP)

Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program (CAMP)

American Bar Association

Request to a judge

I don’t consult outside resources to respond to unprofessional or uncivil lawyers

Other (please specify)

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* 5. Please think about potential actions for improving civility or professional behavior and rank the following, with 1 being most helpful and 10 being least helpful, in terms of how beneficial you feel they would be in improving civility or professional behavior.

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* 6. Would you potentially support the following initiatives that have been used in other states (select all that apply):

A designated office to respond to civility or professionalism complaints

A civility or professionalism rule that could be enforced by judges, including sanctions for particularly egregious conduct

A civility or professionalism rule that could be enforced by the attorney regulation system, including requiring additional education for attorneys that violate the rule

A mediation program aimed specifically at civility issues

None