Credit: 2.0 Ethics Credit Hours

Description: Leaving federal government employment for the private or nonprofit sector raises important ethics issues for attorneys and presents potential pitfalls. Government post-employment restrictions do not always coincide with the Bar's ethics rules and carry criminal penalties if violated. Even those who are not planning to leave government work will benefit from a clear understanding of post-government employment ethics issues, including matters an attorney may be permanently barred from working on after leaving federal service. From potential conflicts of interest that must be considered during and after the employment search process to rules about confidentiality and contact with one's former government employer, government attorneys will walk away from this course with a better grasp of both the ethical standards in the applicable D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct and any relevant statutory requirements. It is particularly important for government attorneys to understand that they face potential criminal liability and disciplinary action from the Bar when they violate some of these rules. The course also will alert attendees to post-government employment issues on fee sharing, the Obama Ethics Pledge, and other matters dealing with employment transitions.