Ethical Considerations When Lawyers Move to a New Law Firm

Arthur D. Burger
Arthur D. Burger | Jackson & Campbell, P.C.

Mr. Burger is a national leader in legal ethics, legal malpractice, and the law governing lawyers. He has been representing prominent law firms and lawyers for over two decades. Selected repeatedly as a Best Lawyer® in Ethics and Professional Responsibility by Best Lawyers of America© and as a Super Lawyer® in Professional Liability Defense, Art litigates in the areas of legal malpractice, fiduciary duties, motions to disqualify, internal law firm disputes, and Bar disciplinary proceedings. He also serves as outside counsel to law firms and provides guidance regarding potential conflicts of interest and other ethical dilemmas.

On-Demand: May 29, 2025

1 hour CLE

Tuition: $395.00
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Program Summary

In today’s legal marketplace it’s common for lawyers to change jobs. Often, the job change involves moving from one firm to another. The move to a new firm triggers the need for the lawyer’s clients to decide whether to continue entrusting their matters to the lawyer at the new firm. It requires decisions by the lawyer as to when to notify her present firm and notify clients of her planned departure. It presents a need for the new firm to assess whether taking on the lawyer will create any conflicts of interest. These decisions often must be made in a short time frame and while those affected may feel betrayed by the lawyer’s decision. This course provides valuable guidance in navigating these and other ethical issues that lawyers face when making such a move.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • The prohibition on law firms imposing restrictive covenants on lawyers who wish to compete – Rule 5.6(a) (see Cohen v. Lord Day & Lord, 75 NY2d 195 (1989); ABA Op. 09-453; ABA Op. 489)
  • The potential conflicts of interest a law firm incurs when accepting a new lawyer – Rules 1.7, 1.9(b) and 1.10(a)(2)
  • The exception to the duty of confidentiality for migrating lawyers Rule 1.6(b)(7)
  • The rights of clients to be informed and to freely select counsel-Rule 1.4 (see D.C. bar ethics opinion 273; and Cohen v. Lord Day & Lord.)

Closed-captioning available

Speakers

Arthur D. Burger_myLawCLEArthur D. Burger | Jackson & Campbell, P.C.

Mr. Burger is a national leader in legal ethics, legal malpractice, and the law governing lawyers. He has been representing prominent law firms and lawyers for over two decades. Selected repeatedly as a Best Lawyer® in Ethics and Professional Responsibility by Best Lawyers of America© and as a Super Lawyer® in Professional Liability Defense, Art litigates in the areas of legal malpractice, fiduciary duties, motions to disqualify, internal law firm disputes, and Bar disciplinary proceedings. He also serves as outside counsel to law firms and provides guidance regarding potential conflicts of interest and other ethical dilemmas.

In addition to his experience as a practitioner, Art has a deep background in the jurisprudence of ethics law. He was a member of the Editorial Board of the ABA/Bloomberg Law-Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct and is an Adjunct Professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School of George Mason University, teaching a night class in Professional Responsibility. He was a member of the ten-person American Bar Association (ABA) Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility from 2014 to 2017; an elected District of Columbia Bar Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates from 2011 to 2012, where he worked with the ABA Ethics 20/20 Commission; a member of the District of Columbia Bar Legal Ethics Committee from 2003 to 2009; a member of the District of Columbia Bar Rules of Professional Conduct Review Committee from 1998 to 2004; and he has taught numerous District of Columbia Bar continuing legal education courses (CLE) on legal ethics and has lectured around the country.

Art also serves as an expert witness on legal ethics and the standard of care for lawyers. In Diamond Resorts vs. Newton Group Transfers, LLC, 2022 WL 1642865 (S.D. Fla. 2022), the court found him “more than qualified to give his expert opinion in matters of legal ethics.”

Agenda

I. The prohibition on law firms imposing restrictive covenants on lawyers who wish to compete – Rule 5.6(a) (see Cohen v. Lord Day & Lord, 75 NY2d 195 (1989); ABA Op. 09-453; ABA Op. 489) | 3:30pm – 3:45pm

II. The potential conflicts of interest a law firm incurs when accepting a new lawyer – Rules 1.7, 1.9(b) and 1.10(a)(2) | 3:45pm – 4:00pm

III. The exception to the duty of confidentiality for migrating lawyers-Rule 1.6(b)(7) | 4:00pm – 4:15pm

IV. The rights of clients to be informed and to freely select counsel-Rule 1.4 (see D.C. bar ethics opinion 273; and Cohen v. Lord Day & Lord.) | 4:15pm – 4:30pm

Credits

Alaska

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Ethics

Our programs are CLE-eligible through Alaska’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity.
Alabama

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Ethics

Arkansas

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Ethics

Arizona

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Professional Responsibility/Ethics

California

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Ethics

Colorado

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics / Professionalism

Connecticut

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Ethics / Professionalism

District of Columbia

No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour(s)

Delaware

Pending CLE Approval
1 Enhanced Ethics

Florida

Approved via Attorney Submission
1 Ethics Hours

Receive CLE credit in Florida via attorney submission.
Georgia

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Ethics

Hawaii

Approved for CLE Credits
1.2 Ethics or Professional Responsibility Education

Iowa

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics

Idaho

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics / Professionalism

Illinois

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics, Civility, Professionalism

Indiana

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics

Kansas

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics / Professionalism

Kentucky

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics

Louisiana

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics

Massachusetts

No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour(s)

Maryland

No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour(s)

Maine

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics / Professionalism

Michigan

No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour(s)

Minnesota

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Ethics

Missouri

Approved for CLE Credits
1.2 Ethics

Mississippi

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics

Montana

Pending CLE Approval
1 Professional Fitness and Integrity

North Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics

North Dakota

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Ethics

Our programs are CLE-eligible through North Dakota’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity. Section 1, Policy 1.14
Nebraska

Pending CLE Approval
1 Professional Responsibility

myLawCLE reports attendance to Nebraska on each attorney’s behalf for all programs. Please do not self-report.
New Hampshire

Approved for CLE Credits
60 Ethics / Professionalism minutes

As of July 1, 2014, the NHMCLE Board no longer provides pre- or post-approval of courses. Attendees must self-determine whether a program is eligible for credit, and self-report their attendance online at www.nhbar.org, based on qualification provisions of Rule 53.
New Jersey

Approved for CLE Credits
1.2 Ethics / Professionalism

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New Jersey’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity, except for the courses required under BCLE Reg. 201:2
New Mexico

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Ethics / Professionalism

Nevada

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics / Professionalism

New York

Approved for CLE Credits
1.2 Ethics / Professionalism

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New York’s Approved Jurisdiction Group “B”.
Ohio

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Professional Conduct

Oklahoma

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics / Professionalism

Oregon

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics

Pennsylvania

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Ethics / Professionalism

Rhode Island

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics / Professionalism

South Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics / Professionalism

South Dakota

No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour(s)

Tennessee

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Dual

Texas

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Ethics / Professionalism

Utah

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics / Professionalism

Virginia

Not Eligible
1 Ethics / Professionalism Hours

Vermont

Approved for CLE Credits
1 Ethics

Washington

Approved via Attorney Submission
1 Ethics Hours

Receive CLE credit in Washington via attorney submission.
Wisconsin

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics

West Virginia

Pending CLE Approval
1.2 Ethics / Professionalism

Wyoming

Pending CLE Approval
1 Ethics / Professionalism

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