Ethics and Environmental Practice: A Lawyer's Guide

The regulation of lawyers through rules of ethics, statutes, and the common law present a special area concern for environmental lawyers: the stakes in these matters are often high and involve very real issues of public health and safety.

Consider these ethical considerations that occur in an environmental practice: Should a lawyer meet with residents considering bringing a toxic tort case before it is file? Are contingency fee agreements appropriate in an environmental tort action? What is the lawyer's ethical obligation to reveal dangers to the public? When does the lawyer have a duty to assert the attorney-client privilege to reject a nonclient's claim to information in an environmental report? How should a lawyer analyze conflicts rules when a Superfund site involves hundreds of potentially responsible parties?

Because the need for cautious and thorough analysis of ethical questions is of paramount importance when issues of safety are implicated, Ethics and Environmental Practice deals with these critical questions and many more to assist the legal practitioner in understanding and responding to these ethical issues. The book's authors, all experienced environmental law practitioners, covering all major areas relating to ethics challenges, including:

Irma S. Russell is the Edward A. Smith/Missouri Chair in Law, the Constitution, and Society at the University of Missouri–Kansas City in Kansas City, Missouri. She teaches environmental law, administrative law, and professional responsibility. In practice, Professor Russell represented potentially responsible parties, government entities, lenders, and others on issues arising under CERCLA and NEPA, wetlands designation, site mitigation, and other environmental issues.

Vicki J. Wright practices law in Indianapolis, Indiana, concentrating on the arenas of environmental and safety law as well as professional responsibility. She works proactively with clients in highly technical market sectors, and provides advice to lawyers and law firms on matters of ethical compliance and firm management. She is frequently asked to negotiate resolution of complex disputes through consensus in lieu of litigation.