The Practice of Law – A Profession

The practice of law is not a business. To practice the law as a profession means that the central, overriding focus and concern is on the interests and rights of clients fully consistent with the substance and the procedures of the law and in compliance with Rules of Professional Conduct such as those of the Virginia State Bar. As a profession, the focus is on service rather than generating legal fees, of providing clients with the highest degree of fiduciary responsibility. It requires strict confidentiality of client information.

Professional representation requires promptness and diligence in dealing with clients; being readily available; providing updates; timely responding to inquiries and concerns; thinking thoroughly about alternatives to accomplish their best interests, advising when a desired course of action is not the best means to accomplish the client’s goals or might be self-defeating irrespective of the effect on remuneration. Professional representation is not judgmental, explains fully the relevance of the attorney-client privilege in order to elicit complete and candid disclosure of all facts irrespective of the client’s view that some may seem or be contrary to one’s interest.