I had a conversation this afternoon with a gent who was banned by Access Pro Bono. He said he got an email from Access Pro Bono saying that they would not give him help because he used his nickname rather than his legal name in his application. They accused him of fraud. Nick name: Nick. Rather than his legal name, Nicholas.
I am totally fed up with organizations that are supposed to help the poor. They are very creative in getting rid of clients.
If a lawyer suspects that a client does not fully understand what she is signing and still leads her to commit perjury, it is both unethical and criminal.
Unethical: The lawyer is failing in their duty to ensure that the client fully understands the legal documents and proceedings. This violates professional conduct rules and can lead to disciplinary actions such as suspension or disbarment.
Criminal: Leading a client to commit perjury, especially when the client may not fully understand the implications, involves knowingly facilitating a crime. This can result in criminal charges against the lawyer, including potential imprisonment.
In this scenario, the lawyer’s actions breach both ethical standards and criminal laws, reflecting a serious abuse of their professional and legal responsibilities.
