2025 The perfect pop song and attorney ethics

There are three songs that the internet says are the perfect pop songs. In this intriguing program, Stuart Teicher (the CLE Performer) will reveal those songs and explain how creating a perfect pop song is related to attorney ethics. He’ll explore issues of competence, candor, and clarity in communication that are essential elements of both.

Learning objectives:

• The quality of the lyrics build a relationship between the songwriter and listener; the quality of the communication between lawyer and client create trust in the law (Rule 1.4).
• Lyrics in a perfect pop song often resonate with the personal experience of the listener; much like the rule on advising (Rule 2.1) gives the lawyer an opportunity to tailor advice to the particular experience of the client.
• A songwriter must be skilled in structuring the elements of a song to maximize its impact; Under Rule 1.1, lawyers are obligated to provide competent representation, which includes strategic planning and structuring cases in a way that best serves the client.
• A song can easily fall apart if it lacks a solid structural foundation. Too much improvisation or deviation from the expected can confuse listeners and weaken the song’s appeal; Lawyers who deviate too much from the structured ethical framework can end up in violations, such as conflicts of interest (Rule 1.7) or improper conduct (Rule 8.4).

Speaker: Stuart Teicher, The CLE Performer

Opinions and positions stated by presenters of MoBarCLE programs are those of the presenters and not necessarily those of The Missouri Bar. This program is intended as information for lawyers in Missouri, in conjunction with other research they deem necessary, in the exercise of their independent judgment.