Louis Schneider was an associate at a Las Vegas law firm when he discovered evidence that his boss, who was about to make him a partner, had misappropriated trust funds.
Nevada, like most bars, has a “snitch rule” — meaning that if you find out about an ethical violation by another attorney, you are ethically obligated to report it. Schneider reluctantly turned in his boss, and blew his chances at partnership.
Schneider told the newspaper some in the legal community have criticized him for filing the ethics complaint, but he relied on lessons he learned from his father, a retired military man, in coming forward. “He has always told me you do the right thing, even if you stand alone,” he said. “I have always wanted to be an attorney, and I was not going to risk losing my license to practice law, or embarrass my son or my father.” (source)
One thing I really like about this guy is that it wasn’t as if he took this action lightly. He consulted with the state bar first, trying to find out if there was a way he could handle it without turning in his boss (and I presume, his friend).
Louis Schneider, you have very large chram, and you don’t stand alone. You are an asset to the profession and deserve our respect.
HT: Debra Weiss
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June 18, 2008 at 11:29 pm |
Living here in Vegas, I can say that there are lots of “bottom feeder” lawyers here.
I hope he stays here and finds a new law firm to work for. I would definitely want him to represent me in a legal proceeding.
June 19, 2008 at 5:43 am |
Florida has its share too!
But, I hope that you, and everyone else, spreads the word about this guy. I’d be proud to have him on my side too.
June 19, 2008 at 9:46 pm |
Not too trivialize this, but is it that big of a deal that someone did what they were supposed to do? Granted, the guy obviously had something to lose (his job), but to praise him for following ethics procedures that he was bound to follow seems more of a statement than the story itself.
June 20, 2008 at 1:02 am |
Thats the problem, most people would look the other way, or even try to get a piece of the profit.
Its as I tell my students when I teach Alcohol Awareness.
A server of alcohol can be held criminally liable for serving an intoxicated person. A manager is not “supposed” to order a server to serve an intoxicated person, but what should the server do if ordered to do so by management?
By then, the options are:
1. Loose job for not following orders
2. Loose license to serve alcohol and most likely go to jail, etc. for serving.
which would you do? If you thought you wouldn’t get caught, you would most likely choose #2, but then how would you feel about it?
Each day people are given a choice to do something easy or to do something honorable. Many people choose the easy way, while they should really be choosing to be honorable.
(sorry about the rant)
November 6, 2009 at 10:25 pm |
Louis is a good friend of mine and also my Attorny..He is a very loyal and honest person..He is very Big hearted guy….If you ever need a good Attorny he is the one..As for what happened knowing Louis the way I do, he did what the Law requires honest people to do!!!This guy is smart, and very good at his job..If you are ever on trial for murder, or any other crime that’s going to send you away for a good while, he is the one you want standing next to you!!!