A.P. Tureaud American Inn of Court End-of-Year Virtual Ethics and Professionalism CLE – December 3, 2020

SCLAHS co-sponsored with the A.P. Tureaud American Inn of Court and the Law Library of Louisiana its first virtual annual end-of-the year CLE for a Cause, held via ZOOM, which included 1.0 hour each of continuing legal education in Ethics and Professionalism. SCLAHS board member, a past president of LSBA, and president of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, E. Phelps Gay presented the Professionalism program entitled, “A.P. Tureaud: Model of Professionalism,” in which he covered the amazing life and career of A.P. Tureaud. Mr. Gay described Tureaud as “one of the most consequential and thoroughly professional lawyers Louisiana has ever known. His contribution to the law and to the breaking down of racial barriers was both immense and immensely courageous.” He stated that the courteous, professional, and supremely patient manner in which Tureaud worked was an inspirational model of professional conduct. The Ethics program, entitled “The LSBA, the Disciplinary Board, and Ethics in Louisiana,” was presented by immediate past LSBA president and former SCLAHS board member Robert A. Kutcher, who previously served as president of the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and Chair of the Louisiana Disciplinary Board. Mr. Kutcher displayed an organizational chart of the LSBA,  with the Louisiana Supreme Court on top, which included many committees. He explained that in 1990 the Court established the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board and that LSBA, under the Louisiana Supreme Court, has no role in discipline but has an Ethics Counsel who may give advisory opinions. Kutcher described a number of committees and programs – the Practice Assistance and Improvement Committee created for prompt resolution of complaints over lawyer conduct, and the Disciplinary Committee that can refer complaints; the AttorneyClient Assistance Program which facilitates/mediates minor complaints without the need for formal investigation; the Diversion Program features formal enforceable contracts, and is designed to avoid a permanent record of discipline. There is a full day Ethics School, a three hour Diversion Program, a Practice Management Program, and a half-day LSBA Advertising School. Kutcher concluded with a discussion of the Disciplinary System. Both programs were well attended and received very positive feedback, with 308 attorneys receiving Louisiana MCLE credits and 7 receiving out-of-state credits.