Legal Profession Commons^™

Lawyer Conflicts Of Interest And Sophisticated Clients, Kevin C. Mcmunigal

Utah OnLaw: The Utah Law Review Online Supplement

I like many things about Professor Milan Markovic’s article on which I have been invited to comment. He has chosen an interesting, important, and timely topic and provides a detailed and persuasive critique of the ability of sophisticated clients to understand and protect themselves from the dangers presented by attorney conflicts of interest. I found particularly interesting his examination of the psychological issues that surround a lawyer obtaining a client’s consent to a conflict of interest.

I devote this commentary, though, to two aspects of Professor Markovic’s article I find puzzling. The first is the modesty of the remedial measures …

Oral Argument Reform In Utah's Appellate Courts: Seeking To Revitalize Oral Argument Through Procedural Modification, Clark Collings

Utah OnLaw: The Utah Law Review Online Supplement

The current institution of oral argument in the national and Utah appellate court systems must be revitalized to save a legal practice that has positively contributed to the development of the law. The purposes served by oral argument—client advocacy and equitable appellate review—cannot be lost merely because the procedure is outdated. By implementing a tentative-opinion program, oral argument will be more focused and meaningful. By reformatting the procedural logistics of oral argument, the parties will be uninhibited in their approach to the conversation. Finally, by employing judicial debiasing strategies, the judges will be aware of their confirmation bias propensities and, …