My cousin Vinny.
Imagine you’re a transactional lawyer, and at midnight, your friend calls you from jail saying he has a court appearance in the morning and urgently needs representation. You can’t reach anyone else to help, and neither can he.
Would you step in to assist him? And how would your firm react if you did?
One Response
It’s definitely a tough situation to be in! If I were in that position, I’d want to help out my buddy, especially since he’s in a tight spot. However, I’d also have to consider the professional implications and the potential conflicts with my firm’s policies.
I think it ultimately depends on the firm’s culture and ethics. If they’re supportive of helping out friends in emergencies, I’d feel more comfortable stepping in. I would also ensure to communicate with my firm as soon as possible afterward to explain the situation and assess any potential fallout.
If I decided to represent him, I’d want to make sure I’m adequately prepared, even if it’s outside my usual practice area. It might be an opportunity to help a friend while also learning something new. But I’d have to weigh that against my responsibilities to my firm and the risk of overstepping my expertise.
What would you do in this situation?