N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 22 § 2

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 41, October 9, 2024

Section 2 - Standards for Transactional/non-litigation Settings

INTRODUCTION

Section 1 of the Standards of Civility, while in many respect s applicable to attorney conduct generally, in certain respect s addresses the practice of law in the setting of litigation and other formal adversary proceedings, where conduct is governed by a variety of specific procedural rules of order and may be supervised by a judge or other similar official. This Section 2, which is more directed to transactional and other non-litigation settings, should be read with Section 1 as one integrated whole for a profession that has multiple facets and spheres of activity.

The differences in practice between lawyers' roles and the expectations in litigation and other settings can sometimes be significant. Although fewer formal rules of conduct and decorum apply outside of the litigation setting, lawyers conducting transactional work should keep Section 1 of Standards of Civility in mind, along with the following additional items.

ADDITIONAL TRANSACTIONAL/NON-LITIGATION STANDARDS

I. A lawyer should balance the requirements and directions of the client in terms of timing with a reasonable solicitude for other parties. Unless the client specifically instructs to the contrary, a lawyer should not impose deadlines that are more onerous than necessary or appropriate to achieve legitimate commercial and other client-related outcomes.

II. A lawyer should focus on the importance of politeness and decorum, taking into account all relevant facts and circumstances, including such elements as the formality of the setting, the sensitivities of those present and the interests of the client.

III. Where an agreement or proposal is tentative or is subject to approval or to further review by a lawyer or by a client, the lawyer should be careful not to proceed without proper authorization or otherwise imply that authority from the client has been obtained when such is not the case.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 22 § 2

Adopted New York State Register March 4, 2020/Volume XLII, Issue 09, eff. 3/4/2020