Q: Can an attorney be personal Facebook friends with over half of the members of a village council that they represent?
I have been dealing with matters concerning the small village where deceased parent's house is located. My dealings with the village attorney have become rather unfavorable. I have recently learned that this attorney is personal Facebook friends with over half the members of the village council. Is this an acceptable practice?
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
It's understandable that you might feel concerned about the village attorney's personal connections with members of the village council, especially if it affects your dealings with the village. Legally, there's no clear-cut rule prohibiting attorneys from being friends, even on social media platforms like Facebook, with people they work with or represent, including members of a village council. However, professional ethics call for transparency, impartiality, and avoidance of conflicts of interest.
If you believe the attorney's relationships with council members are influencing legal decisions or actions to your detriment, it might be worthwhile to express your concerns. You can do this through a formal complaint to the local bar association or by discussing your concerns with another legal advisor for a second opinion. Documentation and specifics will help in assessing whether the attorney's relationships are affecting their professional obligations and duties.
Remember, in any legal matter, your rights and fair representation are paramount. If the situation seems to be compromising these principles, seeking advice from another attorney or legal entity is a valid course of action. It's important to ensure that all parties involved in your legal matters are acting in your best interests and according to ethical standards.
1 user found this answer helpful
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
