It's a Fine Line:
Holding a Professional Standard vs. Hiding Behind One
(4 min reading)
We often believe we can spot a good lawyer. We look for confidence, strong words, and big wins. But what if what we see is not the full story?
In law, there is a fine line between holding a professional standard and hiding behind one. Ethical behaviour often happens quietly. Unethical behaviour, on the other hand, is easier to notice — and often rewarded.
The Invisible Work
Ethical lawyers spend hours checking facts, researching laws, and double-checking advice. They avoid taking shortcuts. They tell clients what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.
But the public rarely sees this work. What they see is the bill at the end. It’s easy to think, "Why does it cost so much?" The real answer is hidden behind the scenes: ethical lawyers invest unpaid hours to protect their clients from hidden risks.
For example, imagine a lawyer who advises a business owner not to sue. It may seem like weakness. In truth, the lawyer may have saved the client years of costly court battles. There’s no news headline for the lawsuit that never happens.
The Power of Influence
Lawyers have influence. Subtle, powerful influence.
Studies show that people are wired to trust authority figures. We are also wired to go along with what "most people" do. Lawyers who want to win your trust quickly know this.
Some use this influence to push clients toward action - more meetings, more litigation, more fees. They speak with confidence. They create urgency. They suggest everyone else in your industry would fight, not settle.
Few clients realise they are being influenced. Fewer still know if the advice is in their best interest or the lawyer’s.
Ethical lawyers have the same tools. But they use them with care. They resist the easy wins. They aim for the long-term good of the client.
The Cost of Integrity
Ethical lawyers often lose money.
When they advise against unnecessary action, they earn less. When they refuse to stretch the truth, they risk losing a case. When they protect their client’s interest over their own, they may lose fame.
They rarely talk about it. Professional rules tell them not to.
It’s a lonely road. And the cost is not just personal. As ethical lawyers struggle to stay in business, the cost of justice rises for everyone.
The Unfair Advantage
Clients without legal training can’t easily judge lawyers. They don’t see the hidden hours or the avoided disasters. They see charm. They see aggressiveness. They see what’s visible.
The lawyer who rushes to court looks brave. The lawyer who advises patience looks weak. The lawyer who promises quick victories wins praise. The one who urges caution sounds hesitant.
In this way, ethical lawyers are penalised. Unethical lawyers are rewarded.
The Public Blind Spot
This problem is not just about lawyers. It’s about all of us.
When ethical lawyers lose ground, we all lose. Justice becomes expensive. Legal risks rise. Doing business becomes harder.
Without ethical lawyers, small businesses suffer. Families suffer. Communities suffer.
Yet the ethical lawyers cannot speak up. They cannot name and shame. They cannot brag about the disasters they quietly helped clients avoid.
A Hidden Crisis
Every day, ethical lawyers face a choice. Hold the standard and risk losing the client? Or hide behind the standard and push for more profit?
Many choose integrity. But how long can they survive?
Clients reward visibility. They reward certainty. They reward speed. But real integrity is often invisible, uncertain, and slow.
What Can Be Done?
This is not a call for sympathy. Ethical lawyers do not ask for pity.
This is a call for awareness.
As business leaders, as decision-makers, you have power. You set the tone. You choose whom to trust.
Reward the lawyers who act with care. Support the ones who tell you the hard truths. Value the advice that protects you in the long run, not just the advice that feels good now.
Ask questions. Look for signs of integrity, not just signs of strength. Listen for the lawyer who says, "Wait," not just the one who says, "Fight."
Only then will we have a system where ethics and success go hand in hand. Only then will justice be more affordable. Only then will business become easier.
The future of ethical lawyering depends on the public’s choice.
It starts with awareness.
It starts with you.
Disclaimer: This page is intended to provide general information only and is not legal advice. The contents may not reflect the most current legal developments and do not take into account your individual circumstances. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of this information without obtaining legal advice tailored to your situation.