Even though attorneys are often the brunt of jokes, they do serious work. And are held to high ethical standards. They owe duties of loyalty to clients. As they should, right? And they should be disqualified if they are presented with a conflict of interest. This Florida legal commentary will discuss disqualifying an attorney in Florida. Including a November 3, 2021 appellate opinion. (We have previously discussed this subject HERE and HERE.) Even if you are a FORMER client, you have rights. Ethical Duties of Florida Lawyers Lawyers in Florida are held to high ethical standards. Lawyers owe clients a duty of loyalty. The Florida Bar has an Ethics Hotline that consumers and attorneys can call. You can review, search, and read, for free, Florida Bar Ethics Opinions online. A lawyer must always act in the best interest of her client. And while a lawyer is not required to be perfect, she must always seek to put the client first. That’s what a fiduciary does. You place your client’s interest over everyone else’s, including your own. And when your interests as a lawyer conflict or collide with a client’s, the lawyer must disclose that conflict. In most instances, the lawyer must also end the representation. Although, some conflicts may be knowingly (and voluntarily) approved of, or consented to, by the client. To read more about ethical duties of Florida lawyers, read the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. Focus on Chapter 4 Rules of Professional Conduct. Disqualifying an Attorney in Florida […]