Members of the legal profession operate within a complex social milieu that, when not seen clearly, can have consequences for their professional lives and wellbeing. Legal ethics expert Jan L. Jacobowitz notes how the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar help lawyers navigate relationships with many groups including clients, counterparties, colleagues, judges, and the public.

Given the adversarial nature of the legal profession, the meaning of another’s words or deeds are rarely extended the benefit of the doubt, motives and intentions are often questions, and there is a strong tendency to take things as a personal attack. This, in turn, fuels the fire of fear and anger as a cycle of hostility is set in motion. At such time, we can find ourselves overreacting in ways that conflict with our values and better judgment, where not only might the prospects for discipline loom, but we are more likely to make mistakes, feel anxious, and be unduly self-critical. So too, important relationships can be damaged. At such time, we may not be seeing things clearly.

Likelihood of Confusion