Ethics Lessons from Suits

The hit series "Suits" (currently streaming on Netflix) follows new associate Mike Ross in his adventures in big law working under partner Harvey Specter. In aggressively advocating for their clients, this duo uses tactics most attorneys wouldn't normally see in a merger or a hearing before a judge.

In this presentation, Texas litigator Brent Turman (partner at Bell Nunnally) tracks these fictional attorneys' cases as well as the power struggles within this firm of diverse and interesting characters, explaining whether their on-screen actions comply with specific ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct (spoiler alert: most of the time they don't.). Through the lens of this captivating series, Turman provides an entertaining way for attorneys to obtain ethics credit.

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze common ethical scenarios through the lens of specific ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct
2. Identify proper and improper attorney conduct in various professional contexts including client advocacy and firm management
3. Apply ethical principles to real-world situations by examining dramatized examples of legal practice
4. Evaluate complex ethical decisions using the framework provided by professional conduct rules and related guidance