Jun 13/Chicago - The #Watergate CLE (#ethics)

REVISED LISTING FOR

The Legacy of Watergate
Ethics of Representing an Entity Under the Current Model Rules

Monday, June 13, 2011 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

The Westin Chicago River North

320 N. Dearborn
Chicago, Illinois 60610 

John Dean was White House Counsel in 1972 when five burglars were arrested at the Watergate Complex in Washington, D.C. He was 34 years old. Events that unfolded in the week following the break-in would lead directly to the resignation of Richard M. Nixon, the nation's 37th President. A conversation held in the Oval Office on Friday, June 23, 1972, would prove to be the final straw. Two years later, when a tape recording of the June 23 conversation was released, Nixon's support in Congress evaporated and he resigned. The tape became known as the "Smoking Gun" tape.

This CLE focuses on John Dean's involvement as counsel in the events that led up to the "Smoking Gun" conversation. During this one week, Dean met with all the major players, from John Mitchell to G. Gordon Liddy. He learned first-hand about what had taken place and who was involved. He handled critical evidence (E. Howard Hunt's safe), and met with the Attorney General and the head of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice to track the government's investigation. He also had several meetings with the Acting Director of the F.B.I., L. Patrick Gray. Dean sat in on the F.B.I. interview of Charles Colson, Special Counsel to the President.

In short, this week provides a classic example of an internal investigation and brings up all the major ethical issues that any lawyer would face when representing an entity in which some of its constituents have been accused of wrongdoing. Who is the client? What are the lawyer's obligations of confidentiality? When can she report what he knows? Who in the entity is protected by the attorney-client privilege and who needs to be warned that the privilege belongs to the entity and not the individual (the so-called Upjohn warnings)? What are the lawyer's obligations to an investigating agency like the F.B.I.?

 

All these issues will be explored under today's standards and the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. This program has been approved by the Illinois MCLE Board for 3.75 hours of professional responsibility credit.

 

MORE INFORMATION:

http://www.cvent.com/events/the-legacy-of-watergate-ethics-of-representing-an-entity-under-the-current-model-rules/event-summary-b7e625d3631f4f538798e12399a30b9b.aspx

PLEASE NOTE: 
This listing has been revised to reflect new information. My most sincere thanks to Jim Robenatl amd Michael Fritz for corrections. Their comments reflect the earlier, incorrect listing and I greatly appreciate their helping us spread correct information!