Professionalism & Ethics Section

The Professionalism & Ethics Section Council of the Idaho State Bar initiates a full schedule of yearly meetings and activities. Each August, the Section co-sponsors with the University of Idaho College of Law, Professionalism and Ethics Orientation, designed for first-year students on their first day of law school. The section meets at 12:00 p.m. (MT) on the first Tuesday of the month at The Law Center, 525 W. Jefferson Street in Boise. Meetings may be hybrid or via Zoom only. Please check email notices for confirmation of location.

Upcoming Meetings & Material

Next Meeting: Agenda | Material |

Professionalism & Ethics Section Meeting on June 6, 2023 12:00 pm
Professionalism & Ethics Section Meeting on July 4, 2023 12:00 pm
Professionalism & Ethics Section Meeting on August 1, 2023 12:00 pm
Professionalism & Ethics Section Meeting on September 5, 2023 12:00 pm
Professionalism & Ethics Section Meeting on October 3, 2023 12:00 pm

To receive CLE credit for the Section Meeting’s CLE, click here.

Other Upcoming Events & CLEs

None at this time.

Reports

Climate of the Legal Profession in Idaho 2020 Report

Additional Course Material Links for Nov. 6th CLE

2021 Proposed Rule 8.4(g) Materials

Professionalism and Ethics Section 2021 Resolution re Proposed Rule 8.4 Amendment

Memo In Support of 2021 Proposed IRPC 8.4(g) Amendment from Section Committee

PowerPoint Presentation – Committee Proposal

Idaho Supreme Court Decision on Resolution 21-01 – 1/20/23

Past Meetings

April 4, 2023 – Agenda | Material
March 7, 2023 – Agenda
January 3, 2023 – Agenda
November 1, 2022 – Agenda
October 4, 2022 – Agenda
September 6, 2022 – Agenda
August 2, 2022 – Agenda
June 7, 2022 – Agenda
May 3, 2022 – Agenda
March 1, 2022 – Agenda
January 4, 2022 – Agenda
December 7, 2021 – Agenda
October 5, 2021 – Agenda | Material
August 3, 2021 – Agenda
June 1, 2021 – Agenda
May 4, 2021 – Agenda | Material
March 2, 2021 – Agenda
February 2, 2021 – Agenda | Material
January 5, 2021 – Agenda
November 3, 2020 – Agenda
October 6, 2020 – Agenda
September 1, 2020 – Agenda
August 4, 2020 – Agenda
June 2, 2020 – Agenda
May 5, 2020 – Agenda
April 7, 2020 – Agenda
March 3, 2020 – Agenda | Materials
February 4, 2020 – Agenda
January 7, 2020 – Agenda | Materials
December 3, 2019 – Agenda
October 1, 2019 – Agenda
September 3, 2019 – Agenda
August 6, 2019 – Agenda
June 4, 2019 – Agenda
May 7, 2019 – Agenda | Materials
April 2, 2019 – Agenda
March 5, 2019 – Agenda
February 5, 2019 – Agenda
January 8, 2019 – Agenda | Materials
September 5, 2017 – Agenda | Materials
August 1, 2017 – Agenda
~~July 4, 2017~~ – Canceled
June 6, 2017 – Agenda / Materials
May 2, 2017 – Agenda / Golfing for Ethics Registration Form
April 4, 2017 – Agenda
March 7, 2017 – Agenda
February 7, 2017 – Agenda | Materials

Meeting Minutes

Section Sponsored Issues of The Advocate

January 2020 – Co-Sponsored with the Idaho Lawyer Assistance Program
September 2017
August 2016 – Co-Sponsored with the Idaho Lawyer Assistance Program
September 2013 – Co-Sponsored with the Idaho Legal History Society
January 2010
February 2009
June 2006
September 2005
October 2004
September 2004
June 2003
June 2002
May 2001
March 2000

Section Sponsored CLE Courses On-Demand

The following courses were sponsored by the Professionalism & Ethics Section. They are available to watch on-demand (self-study) with 24/7 availability so you can easily view programs whenever and wherever it is convenient. Click on the course title to see the description of the course and the cost.

Promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Legal Profession – 2.0 CLE Credits of which 2.0 is Ethics
Speaking Up and Speaking Out: Harassment, Discrimination and Bullying in the Legal Profession – 2.5 CLE Credits of which 2.5 is Ethics
The Climate of Civility and Professionalism in the Practice of Law in Idaho – 2021 Annual Meeting CLE – 2.0 CLE credits of which 2.0 is Ethics – NAC Approved
The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change – 2.0 MCLE credits of which 2.0 is Ethics
Professionalism, Civility and Professional Conduct Issues – A View from the Bench – 2.0 MCLE credits of with 2.0 is Ethics
Ethics and COVID-19, a Look Back at the Election and a Look Forward to the Vaccine – 2.5 MCLE credits of which 0.5 is Ethics

Richard C. Fields Civility Award

The Idaho State Bar Professionalism & Ethics Section and Concordia University School of Law developed the Richard C. Fields Civility Award to honor Richard C. “Dick” Fields and to award it to those in the legal community who emulate his same characteristics. Dick was consistently recognized for his service, professionalism, and leadership within the Idaho State Bar and was known in the legal community as an advocate for civility in the practice of law. He received the Idaho State Bar’s Distinguished Lawyer Award in 2000 and chaired the Dean’s Advisory Council at Concordia Law from 20

The Idaho State Bar Professionalism & Ethics Section present the Richard C. Fields Civility Award each year. Dick Fields was consistently recognized for his service, professionalism, and leadership within the Idaho State Bar and was known in the legal community as an advocate for civility in the practice of law. Dick received the Idaho State Bar’s Distinguished Lawyer Award in 2000 and chaired the Dean’s Advisory Council at Concordia Law since its inception in 2009, until his passing in April 2014. In honor of Dick’s memory and the legacy he left for future generations of lawyers in Idaho, this award is presented to an Idaho lawyer who demonstrates a commitment to professionalism and civility in the profession.

Previous recipients include:

2014 Hon. Mikel H. Williams

2015 Reginald R. Reeves

2016 William F. (Bud) Yost III

2017 Richard E. Hall

2018 Theodore E. Argyle

2019 Charles A. Homer

2020 B. Newel Squyres

2021 Paula A. Landholm Kluksdal

How do you nominate an individual?

Email your nomination to the Chair of the Idaho Professionalism and Ethics Bar Section, Erica White, ewhite@adacounty.id.gov.

Who can nominate someone?

Anyone who knows and is familiar with the attorney. In the past, great nominations have been received from judges, legal assistants/paralegals, law clerks and community members.

Who can be nominated?

Any attorney, who primarily practices in Idaho, who demonstrates a commitment to professionalism and civility and is an example to his or her peers.

The selection committee kindly asks you to refrain from nominating an attorney posthumously or a member of the judiciary, even though both categories undisputedly have several qualified nominees.

What should the nomination include?

The composition of the nomination submission is up to the nominator. It can be a few sentences about the person being nominated and why he or she is qualified. It can be a formal letter. Numerous people can get together and submit a nomination “packet” for one person or each person can submit his or her own nomination. Information about activities participated in and/or examples or conduct which you believe demonstrates a commitment to professionalism and civility are helpful.

To view a list of previous recipients, select: Richard C. Fields Civility Award Past Recipients.

Helpful Links

More About Our Section

The Professionalism & Ethics Section through its outreach efforts strives to preserve and enhance the level of ethics, civility, and professionalism in the practice of law and to raise the public’s perception of our profession. Consistent with this mission, the Section promoted the adoption of the “Standards for Civility in Professional Conduct Guidelines” and assisted in the publication of “Consumer’s Guide to Idaho Lawyers.” The Section sponsors a variety of CLE programs throughout the year for practicing attorneys and annually sponsors an issue of the Idaho State Bar’s Advocate devoted to ethics and professionalism. Membership in this Section provides Idaho attorneys an opportunity to work closely with colleagues who share a vision for a profession that embodies personal courtesy and professional and ethical integrity in the fullest sense of those terms. Section meetings are currently held on the first Tuesday noon of each month in Boise at The Law Center (teleconference access from throughout the state). Please join and help us in our efforts.

Section Membership

If you are interested in joining the Professionalism & Ethics Section, please register using the Section Registration Form.

Membership dues are as follows:

Standard Membership Dues – $40
Attorneys admitted to ISB less than 1 year – $10
Law Students – $10

To view the section’s by-laws, select: Professionalism & Ethics Section By Laws.

Section Officers

Chairperson

Catherine A. Freeman

At Large Council Members

Vice Chairperson

Treasurer

Secretary

Past Chairperson

Disclaimer

The Professionalism & Ethics Section of the Idaho State Bar presents information on this website as a service to our members and others who provide legal services. Our goal is to provide information, education, and networking in this complex and wide-ranging area of the law.

While we strive to be accurate and timely and therefore hope to be a valuable resource to users of this site, nothing contained herein should be construed as legal advice and we make no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy or reliability of the content at this site or the other sites to which we link.