Christine Parker and Lyn Aitken, 'The Queensland "Workplace Culture Check": Learning from Reflection on Ethics Inside Law Firms', (2011) 24 (1)Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics, 399. See esp pp425 - 435

Imagine you are working in your first job in a law firm after graduation. You are assisting on a file and have just seen a bill that was sent to the client.You see that the client has been billed at senior partner rates for a lot of the work that you have done.

a) What ethical issues does this raise for you?

b) What would you do in this situation?

c) What are some of the barriers you would face in taking action?

d) What are some of the consequences if you fail to take any action?

e) What capacity do junior lawyers have to question the ethics in a law firm?

f) How would you suggest a lawyer should raise issues like the one discussed?

g) What strategies could you develop in order to assist you to deal with unethical behaviour in a law firm?

h) Is there a positive obligation to report unethical behaviour by other lawyers?

i) Is there a positive obligation to report illegal behaviour by other lawyers?