[2] As a general rule, a lawyer must refuse or withdraw from representation if the client asks the lawyer to behave unlawfully or to violate ethical rules or other laws. The lawyer is not obliged to refuse or resign simply because the client proposes such behaviour; A client may make such a proposal in the hope that a lawyer will not be constrained by a professional commitment. Follow the client`s instructions A lawyer must inform a client of possible actions in a case and then act according to the client`s choice – even if the lawyer may have chosen a different path. One of the few exceptions occurs when a client seeks the help of a lawyer to do something illegal, such as lying in court or in a legal document. In these cases, the lawyer is obliged to inform the client of the legal effects of a planned fault and to refuse assistance. By law, landlords cannot deny prospective tenants housing based on race, color, religion, nationality, sex, sexual preference, age, marital status, disability, immigration status, legal profession, or source of income. In addition, tenants cannot be refused the apartment because their children live or will live with them. Tenants who believe they have experienced discrimination in housing can file a complaint within one year of the incident by calling 311 and joining the New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR). In addition, legal aid cannot accept so-called “fee-generating” cases.
In a fee-generating case, a lawyer`s fees are paid out of the money awarded to the winning party. If you ask for legal help with your problem, you will be told whether it is a paid case or not. Sometimes refusing to negotiate with customers or suppliers has the effect of preventing them from negotiating with a competitor: “I refuse to negotiate with you if you negotiate with my competitor.” In one case in the 1950s, for example, the only newspaper in a city refused to run ads from companies that also ran ads on a local radio station. The newspaper monitored radio advertising and terminated its advertising contracts with all companies that placed ads on the radio. The Supreme Court found that the newspaper`s refusal to deal with the undertakings using the radio station consolidated its dominant position in the local advertising market and threatened to eliminate the radio station as a competitor. It is illegal to refuse to provide service to a potential client on the basis of: This section will help you understand the different types of cases that legal aid offices typically handle and the roles of paralegals and legal aid lawyers. If someone offers you money to leave your apartment, you should consult a lawyer before accepting money or signing an agreement. To find out if you qualify for free legal assistance, call Legal Services at 212-577-3300 or Legal Services of New York at 917-661-4500. You must determine whether your decision to refuse service is reasonable in light of the facts and whether it is likely to cause you to violate Principle 5 of the SRA Principles, which requires you to act with integrity.
Harassment by a landlord is illegal. Examples of acts that may constitute harassment include denial of services and persistent physical or psychological intimidation. To help as many eligible people as possible, most legal aid agencies also use paralegals to help with their cases. Paralegals are not lawyers and cannot practise law, but they can represent clients at administrative hearings. For example, a paralegal may represent clients at hearings involving social assistance, supplementary security income or unemployment benefits. Paralegals can interview clients and let them know about their benefits. They also research and investigate cases and help negotiate with merchants, landlords or government officials. Paralegals are supervised by lawyers and help provide legal services to clients. One of the most troubled areas of antitrust law concerns the duty of a monopolist to deal with its competitors. In general, a company is not obliged to deal with its competitors. Imposing obligations on a company to do business with its competitors is contrary to other antitrust rules that discourage agreements between competitors that may unduly restrict competition. However, the courts have found antitrust liability in certain circumstances when a company with significant market power refuses to do business with a competitor.
For example, if the monopolist refuses to sell a product or service to a competitor that it makes available to others, or if the monopolist has done business with the competitor and then ceases, the monopolist needs a legitimate business reason to justify its policy. The courts will further develop the law in this area. If you need help with your legal problem and think you qualify for legal aid, call your nearest office to find out if you qualify. October 2011 Update Family Law Matters. These include divorce, adoption, custody, alimony, parental visitation or parenting time, domestic violence, guardianship, injunctions, defense in paternity claims, and amendment of decrees. Most legal aid agencies limit representation in divorce to certain types of situations. Some offices do not accept divorce cases, except in cases of emergency. You have the right to expect competent representation from your lawyer. However, each case has at least two sides.
If you are not satisfied with your lawyer, it is important to determine why. If, after a realistic look, you believe you have a sincere complaint about your legal representation, there are several things you can do. This section describes these options and some issues to consider when resolving such disagreements. The manner in which a lawyer should act in professional and private life depends on the rules of professional conduct of the state or states in which he is authorized. These rules are usually administered by the highest court of the State through its disciplinary council. These rules generally describe how lawyers should strive to improve the legal profession and enforce the law. They also contain more detailed rules of conduct for specific situations. If a lawyer`s conduct does not meet the standards set out in the rules, he or she may be disciplined by reprimanding or reprimanding him or her (publicly or privately); suspension (withdrawal of the licence to practise law for a period of time); or excluded (the licence to practise law is withdrawn for an indefinite period).