ND Bar Ethics and Professional Responsibility

Question 1

Under the North Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct, an attorney is generally prohibited from revealing information relating to the representation of a client.
Which of the following situations is an exception to this rule?

Accepted Answer

The attorney believes the client will use the information to commit a future crime.

Answer

The attorney wishes to share the information with family members.

Answer

The attorney needs to disclose the information to a potential employer.

Answer

The attorney is subpoenaed to testify about the information in court.

Question 2

An attorney has represented Client A for several years. Client B, who has a conflicting claim against Client A, approaches the attorney for representation. What should the attorney do?

Accepted Answer

Decline to represent Client B and continue representing Client A.

Answer

Represent Client B as long as the attorney believes there is no direct conflict.

Answer

Represent Client B only if Client A consents to the representation.

Answer

Withdraw from representing Client A and represent Client B.

Question 3

What is required for an attorney in North Dakota to ensure that their fees are considered reasonable?

Accepted Answer

The attorney must provide a written agreement outlining the fee structure.

Answer

The attorney must charge the same fee as other attorneys in the area.

Answer

The attorney must disclose all potential additional costs in advance.

Answer

The attorney must obtain client consent before any fee increase.

Question 4

What is an attorney's obligation regarding truthfulness in their representations to the court?

Accepted Answer

The attorney must ensure that all statements made to the court are truthful and not misleading.

Answer

The attorney can make statements that are exaggerated as long as they do not misrepresent facts.

Answer

The attorney should only be truthful if it does not harm their client's case.

Answer

The attorney must provide all relevant documents to the opposing party, even if it is not requested.

Question 5

How should an attorney in North Dakota handle communication with a client about the status of their case?

Accepted Answer

The attorney should regularly update the client on significant developments and progress.

Answer

The attorney should provide updates only when the client requests them.

Answer

The attorney should delegate communication to a paralegal to save time.

Answer

The attorney should provide updates only after the case is resolved.