WI Bar Wisconsin Professional Responsibility and Ethics 2

Question 1

Under Wisconsin SCR 20:1.15, an attorney who receives client funds in connection with a representation must do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Hold them in a separate trust account and keep records of all deposits and disbursements

Answer

Deposit them in the attorney's general business operating account for efficiency

Answer

Immediately disburse them to the client to avoid commingling

Answer

Report the receipt of funds to the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation within 30 days

Question 2

Wisconsin SCR 20:1.8(a) governs business transactions between attorneys and clients. Which of the following conditions is required before an attorney may enter such a transaction?

Accepted Answer

The transaction must be fair and reasonable, its terms must be fully disclosed in writing, and the client must be advised in writing to seek independent counsel

Answer

The attorney must obtain the client's written consent before beginning any representation

Answer

The transaction must be approved by the State Bar of Wisconsin's Ethics Committee

Answer

The attorney must disclose the transaction to opposing counsel

Question 3

Under Wisconsin SCR 20:1.5, which of the following factors is relevant to determining whether a fee is reasonable?

Accepted Answer

The time and labor required and the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved

Answer

Whether the client is a Wisconsin resident

Answer

Whether the attorney graduated from a Wisconsin law school

Answer

The amount the attorney charges other attorneys for co-counsel services

Question 4

Under Wisconsin SCR 20:1.9, which duty does an attorney owe to a former client?

Accepted Answer

The attorney may not represent another person in a substantially related matter in which that person's interests are materially adverse to the former client, without consent

Answer

The attorney may represent a new client against the former client on any matter with full written disclosure

Answer

The attorney must never again represent any client in any matter if there is any connection to the former representation

Answer

The attorney must refer all former clients to successor counsel before accepting new matters

Question 5

Wisconsin SCR 20:1.16 requires mandatory withdrawal under certain circumstances. Which of the following requires an attorney to withdraw from a representation?

Accepted Answer

The representation will result in violation of the rules of professional conduct or other law

Answer

The client disagrees with the attorney's litigation strategy

Answer

The case becomes more complex than originally anticipated

Answer

The opposing counsel is more experienced than the attorney

Question 6

Under Wisconsin's rules, a contingent fee agreement must be in writing and signed by the client. Additionally, which of the following matters does Wisconsin specifically prohibit contingent fee arrangements?

Accepted Answer

Criminal defense and domestic relations matters where payment is contingent on divorce being granted

Answer

Personal injury tort claims

Answer

Employment discrimination claims

Answer

Real estate contract disputes

Question 7

Under Wisconsin SCR 20:5.4, which of the following is generally prohibited regarding sharing legal fees with non-lawyers?

Accepted Answer

Sharing a percentage of legal fees from a specific case with a non-lawyer referral source

Answer

Paying a non-lawyer employee a bonus based on the firm's overall profitability

Answer

Including a non-lawyer in a profit-sharing plan for the entire firm

Answer

Paying a non-lawyer consultant for services related to case management software