The code of Conduct for all lawyers including every criminal lawyer Toronto is adopted as a set of principles on which it is need to manage lawyers in their work. They are in accordance with the general principles of ethics previously accepted and developed.
Failure to comply with the rules and principles of the Code of Conduct for lawyers, legal associates and legal interns make a violation of discipline.
The duty of all lawyers is to take care of the proper application of this Code and any violation of professional ethics means they will have to face the consequences.
The attorney as provider of legal assistance should provide legal help to represent or defend clients when they turn to him for that purpose.
A lawyer cannot refuse the providing of legal assistance or help for an unknown cause, but he can do it in case of a bad health condition, a possibility of losing the case, inability of the party to pay the costs, irresponsible clients etc.…
The refusal to defend a client in criminal cases (defense) should be assessed by strict criteria. It is allowed only in exceptional cases, in particular, from an objective and subjective nature, such as Alzheimer’s disease. It should be taken into account that the accused can be left defenseless.
In case of a party that is unable to pay the fee of the lawyer in the full amount, it cannot affect the fact that everyone deserves to be given a legal help or because this is a traditional and honorable task of law profession.
If the lawyer accepts public authorizations, giving legal assistance, he is obliged to remain faithful to their party and to work with them to establish a relationship of trust. He can refuse representation, defense or giving legal advice for some certain reasons. But in this case the lawyer is obliged to represent their party until they provide another legal representative. The deadline for this can be up to 30 days.
A lawyer must not take public authorizations or representation of co-litigants or defendants if their mutual interests are opposed. If such an event occurs during the representation or defense, the attorney is obliged to refuse the representation or defense of a party.
When assembling the two-sided legal matters (contracts, etc.) the lawyer is obliged to diligently protect the interests of both parties, regardless of which of them requested legal assistance paid by the prize. If a dispute arises between the parties about the agreement made by the lawyer, then he/ she should not appear as a representative of any of the parties.
The lawyer is obliged to diligently represent and defend his client, while using all necessary means permitted by law or other regulations. However, the lawyer should avoid unnecessary submission of money or gifts or any other unnecessary proposals. He/ She should seek all the evidence and facts and concentrate in a smaller number of submissions. The lawyer should not be identified with their party, but should remain on the high level of his powerful position – representative or counsel to the clients.