All definitions from Black Law Dictionary 4th Ed.
ETHICAL. "Of or relating to moral action, motive or character; as, ethical emotion;
also, treating of moral feelings, duties or conduct; containing precepts of morality; moral"; and secondarily as "professionally right or befitting; conforming to professional standards of conduct." Kraushaar v. La Vin, 181 Misc. 508, 42 N.Y.S.2d 857,859.
ETHICS. What is generally called the "ethics" of the profession is but consensus of
expert opinion as to necessity of professional standards. Cherry v. Board of Regents of University of State of New York, 289 N.Y. 148, 44 N.E.2d 405, 412.
Ethics + Equity = Remedy
EQUITY. In its broadest and most general signification, this term denotes the
spirit and the habit of fairness, justness, and right dealing which would regulate the intercourse of men with men, the rule of doing to all others as we desire them to do to us; or, as it is expressed by Justinian, "to live honestly, to harm nobody, to render to every man his due." Inst. 1, 1, 3. It is therefore the synonym of natural right or justice. But in this sense its obligation is ethical rather than juraI, and its discussion belongs to the sphere of morals. It is grounded in the precepts of the conscience, not in any sanction of positive law.
In a restricted sense, the word denotes equal and impartial justice as between two persons whose rights or claims are 'in conflict; justice, that is, as ascertained by natural reason or ethical insight, but independent of the formulated body of law. This is not a technical meaning of the term, except in so far as courts which administer equity seek to discover it by the agencies above mentioned or apply it beyond the strict lines' of positive law. See
Miller V. Kenniston, 86 Me. 550, 30 A.114.
LEGAL ETHICS. Usages and customs among members of the legal profession, involving
their moral and professional duties toward one another, toward clients, and toward the courts; that branch of moral science which treats of the duties which a member of the legal profession owes to the public, to the court, to his professional brethren, and to his client. Kraushaar v. La Vin, 42 N.Y.S.2d 857,859,181 Misc. 508.
That was the good ole days. Today if you can’t beat them using ethics then lie!
My father was a lawyer, and I remember him saying that he was a “legal liar”, which Congress assured attorney’s safety to lie
18 U.S. Code CHAPTER 47— FRAUD AND FALSE STATEMENTS
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1001
(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;
(2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
(3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry;
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both. If the matter relates
to an offense under chapter 109A, 109B, 110, or 117, or section 1591, then the term of imprisonment imposed under this section shall be not more than 8 years.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a party to a judicial proceeding, or that party’s counsel, for statements, representations, writings or documents submitted by such party or counsel to a judge or magistrate in that
proceeding.
