A client’s past misdeeds are rarely a deal breaker for a prospective attorney-client relationship. Every day, lawyers help clients address the consequences of illegal conduct and analyze the legal aspects of questionable conduct. These discussions are consistent with a lawyer’s ethical responsibilities and lawyers are bound to preserve the confidentiality of their content. When clients consult a lawyer to further a fraudulent or criminal act, whether they seek assistance with committing a new act or benefiting from a past one, a lawyer’s ethical duties shift in a major way. This article explores situations where client misconduct pits an attorney’s duties to a client against duties owed to courts, third parties, and the general public. Click here to read more.