Assignment on Egoistic Moral Framework

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Question A
Egoistic moral framework is applied by Mick Haller in his practice of the law. In the
film, The Lincoln Lawyer Mick Haller is the criminal defense lawyer. Morally he commits
several ethical breaches and this defines his moral framework in his practice of the law. Through
his moral skills obtained in the criminal defense, he cheats the judge about the need to keep trail
through investigating Mr. Green who is a fictitious witness1. This is tricky he sets s that he can
draw the payments from the client. This is the use of the criminal moral framework to violate
court laws2. Concerning this moral framework by Mick Haller, he violates rule 5-200 which
states that an attorney general shall take actions that mislead the judge through giving the false
statement or artifice. This action of misleading the judge also violates rule 6069 that states that
the attorney general should not encourage the continuance of the proceedings or the actions from
any of the corrupt passion or corruption interest3. This is kind of the crime that should be proved
with the highest degree. This happens after he discovers that one of his representative clients
1 Petrina McPherson, ‘Professional Courtesy’ (2010) 30(1) Proctor 37
2 Carrie Menkel-Meadow, ‘Portia in a Different Voice: Speculations on a Women’s Lawyering
Process’ (1985) 1(1) Berkeley Women’s Law Journal 39–63

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Louis is a dangerous murderer but as a lawyer of the client, he gives him the information that
will not save him from the criminal offense4.
Morally, Mick Haller is an ethical bind and is considered as the solution for the client’s
character but this is bound within the limits of the law. The film is very correct by stating that
privilege should be held by the client but not the attorney5. Besides, the film states that the
attorney must keep the client more confidence regardless of the crime accused of. In this case,
Mick Haller does the opposite of what he is supposed to do6. He uses his moral crime defense
skills to cheat the judge to get more money from the client. This is the wrong way of practicing
the law negatively and for personal gain. Morally he is lier and greedy because he does now care
about the paid that the client would go through his practice7. This firm takes business, especially
in California8. The professional and the business code 6068 (e) (1) gives the fact that the attorney
3 Mark Aaronson, ‘Be Just to One Another: Preliminary Thoughts on Civility, Moral Character,
and Professionalism’ (1995) 8 St Thomas Law Review 113–55.
4 Kathleen Browe, ‘A Critique of the Civility Movement: Why Rambo Will Not Go Away’
(1994) 77 Marquette Law Review 751–84.
5 Monroe H Freedman, ‘Personal Responsibility in a Professional System’ (1978) 27 Catholic
University Law Review 191– 205.
6 Thomas Shaffer, ‘The Legal Ethics of Radical Individualism’ (1987) 65 Texas Law Review
963–991.
7 Connelly, Michael. The Lincoln Lawyer: A Richard and Judy bestseller. Hachette UK, 2019.
8 Nortrup, Jack. The education of a western lawyer. The American Journal of Legal History 12.4
(2018): 294-305.

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is supposed to maintain inviolate of the confidence especially to him/herself to maintain the
secret beyond the case of his or her client. Based on this rule, confidentiality is considered to be
the key factor that should have been seen in Mick Haller's reactions to the matter. This rule
shows that the attorney is supposed to be very serious about the case of the client and with no
other hided personal agenda to benefit from the case9.
The greedy of Mick Haller violates these sections because he does what it takes to make
sure he extracts all coins from the client. This is followed by the misleading statement to the
judge who is against how he should use the moral frameworks in practice of the law10. Based on
the ethics of care, three elements should be shown by the lawyers in their practice11. The first
obligation which was violated by the Mick Haller in his moral frameworks in practicing law
includes taking the holistic point of view of the problem and the client12. The other ethical
standards that were supposed to have emulated by the Mick Haller are emphasizing on a sober
discussion without misleading the judges and clients on actions to be taken. This should be a
moral conversation between the judge and the lawyer that should be aimed at favoring the lawyer
but the side of the client. This should be applied by the lawyer even in the face of criminal
charges and death. In the film, without the permission of the Roulet Haller was not is the
9 William Simon, The Practice of Justice: A Theory of Lawyers’ Ethics (1998) (excerpts).
10 Anthony Kronman, The Lost Lawyer – Failing Ideals of the Legal Profession (1993) 53–108.
11 Tim Dare, The Counsel of Rogues? A Defence of the Standard Conception of the Lawyer’s
Role (Ashgate Publishing Ltd, 2009) 1–14.
12 Anthony Kronman, ‘Living in the Law’ (1987) 54 University of Chicago Law Review 835.