The rule of definition most frequently violated in pleadings, legal opinions and laws is the rule against tautology. In the simplest case, this rule prohibits the definition of a word using the same word in the definition. The American Bar Association has already spent a small fortune to fund a task force to report on professionalism. The report was hundreds of pages long and was published with much shouting, but not once in all its glory did it define the term that was the subject of the report. Dictionaries also violate this rule. Incredibly, the second definition of the word «tautology» itself, as listed in Merriam Webster`s Collegiate Dictionary, 10th edition, is «a tautologous statement.» In almost every conversation about contemporary politics and politics, the terms «liberal» and «conservative» are thrown out with reckless devotion. People will say that everyone knows what these words mean, and yet the truth is that no one knows. Even more confusing, meanings can change from sentence to sentence and sometimes even from sentence to sentence. Whatever the meaning, it must be extrapolated from the context, and by then, it is too late for a targeted statement. And if you think «liberal» and «conservative» are boring, try using the famous four-letter word L-O-V-E and see what happens.

4) Require all lawyers to «make an annual pledge of courtesy.» Finally, the task force recommended that all lawyers be required to take an oath or confirm that they will practise civil law each year if they pay annual legal fees. In 2020, the Worldwide Civility Council launched the Certified Civil initiative to recognize and validate the commitment of individuals, organizations, and groups around the world to civic behavior and communication, including businesses, publications, websites, and social media sites. [20] A certified civilian designation can only be granted on the basis of a proven capacity to act and promote comity. At the heart of the courtesy certification process are several commitments, including advocating for dignity and respect in all actions, listening to create constructive dialogues, speaking in a way that reflects respect, ensuring that all public content respects the limits set by certified civil standards, displaying the certified civil logo and maintaining a good reputation through the Certification Continuation. [21] The courts and the organized bar attach great importance to the issue of politeness. Few, if any, topics begin with the essential question of definition. So we have to ask ourselves, «What is the definition of `politeness`?» How often do you disagree that you and the other participants are not talking about the same thing? How often are you in a meeting or audience and find that what someone else is saying and thinking is like ships passing by at night? How many times do you ask yourself, «Wait a minute, what am I trying to say?» Many projects are run by state supreme courts to promote comity. One such initiative is led by the California Judiciary for its civic education outreach program. The main goal of this program is to teach young adults and students how democracy is supposed to work in the United States and other details about how legal processes work. The mission is for students to leave the program with greater interest and understanding of the United States.

Courts, judicial procedures and democracy. [27] It should be obvious, but apparently not, that politeness is good intercession. In almost all cases, civil and criminal, there comes a time when opposing lawyers must plead together to reach an agreement. Courtesy reduces the chances of successful negotiations and, therefore, the lawyer`s ability to provide competent services to both the client and the court. It also significantly reduces the lawyer`s ability to persuade the judge or jury afterwards. Courtesy is not the same as loving someone. It`s a myth that politeness is more likely to be possible in smaller communities where everyone knows everyone else. Knowing or loving the other person is not a prerequisite for politeness. Courtesy obliges us to pay tribute even to the strangers who share our space, whether in public space, office, courtroom or cyberspace.

Diligent defense is often not a problem for lawyers. As lawyers, lawyers tend to argue on behalf of their clients and support those arguments with valid and compelling legal theories. Other research shows that lawyers are more than twice as likely as the general population to suffer from mental illness and addiction. Law can be a high-pressure profession, and it seems that unnecessary stress is added by uncivilized behavior directed at a lawyer. «Unnecessary» is used here as a descriptor because the consequences of rudeness, as more than 92% of survey respondents acknowledged, often do nothing to obtain justice or serve the interests of clients. The consequences include making it more difficult to resolve our clients` cases, increasing costs for our clients, and undermining public confidence in the justice system. They are exactly the opposite of what we should be aiming for as lawyers. Whatever the causes, the first step toward a true cure for the pandemic of rudeness is to recognize the profoundly destructive effects of uncivilized behavior on the individual lawyers who participate in it, on those exposed to it, on the bar association as a whole, and ultimately on the American justice system. It begins with the recognition that politeness is and should be the cornerstone of legal practice.

Among other things, the BEPM verifies knowledge of the model professional rules. The Model Rules are adopted in one form or another by each State to ensure that lawyers are held accountable for professional conduct. In particular, these rules address the key points and concepts of ethical standards that lawyers in the legal profession must follow.