2025 Zealousness: The dirtiest word in ethics

For years, legal ethics reformers have tried to soften zealous advocacy, pushing civility, professionalism, and "reasonable" representation. They failed. And they should fail. Because when the system crushes people, lawyers are the last line of defense. In this frank discussion.  Stuart Teicher, Esq., the CLE Performer, talks about the history of the concept of zealous advocacy, explains the rules that form the boundary of proper lawyer behavior, and dismantles the myth that diluting aggressive representation is progress. 

Learning objectives:

• The rules that form the boundaries to our behavior, like 4.1, 3.3, and 3.4.
• How zealous advocacy stays within those rules ... barely. Explaining the difference between ethics and professionalism.
• Where zealous advocacy normally runs afoul: Rule 8.4(d).
• How zealous advocacy promotes the ethical concept of access to justice.

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.