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Can you turn down a client as a lawyer?

I was thinking can you turn down a client as a lawyer if you think that what they did was wrong and they don't want to fight for them? #law #lawyer

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Subject: Career question for you

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Noel’s Answer

Whether you can turn down a client as an attorney depends on a few things. For example, if you work for a law firm, you will be assigned cases. If you do not want to handle a specific case, you could talk to your supervisor and ask to be removed from the case. If she or he declines and insists you handle the case, then you have a choice: represent the client or risk losing your job. If you are a solo practitioner, you can decline to take any case you want.


If you become a lawyer you will come to understand a fundamental truth, everyone has the right to an attorney, even if they are guilty. Respecting that fact means that you may choose to represent a guilty client on your own.

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Doug’s Answer

My law school professor stated that when presented with such a dilemma you must look at it from the standpoint that if the situation is such that it violates your sense of right or wrong you must refer the situation to one who is willing to present a full and complete side of the clients story. The above answer to mine is very correct in that what happens if your job is dependent on the handling of the matter. That would be much like if you have friends that are doing things you are not comfortable with. Would you be willing to find new friends or would you go along with the situation? I would hope that you would make the decision to find new friends but that is something only you can decide. The present situation in Washington is a good example.
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