Pro Bono Practice and Professional Responsibility: Ethical Challenges for Modern Lawyers | Advocates Edge CLE

Rule 6.1 of the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct states that “Every lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay.” There are many ways to satisfy this obligation, from providing advice at legal clinics to full representation in litigated matters, or being involved in activities aimed at improving the legal system.

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This presentation will explore ethical issues that may arise in the context of providing pro bono representation, including attorney competence in new areas of law, the potential for conflicts of interest, and the ethical use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI).

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Presenters: Caitlin Guilford, Assistant Director, OLPR & Maggie Skelton, Senior Attorney, OLPR

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Caitlin Guilford joined the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility as an Assistant Director in April 2022. Caitlin previously worked as a supervising attorney in the housing and consumer units at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) in the St. Paul Office. Before that, she practiced as a consumer litigator specializing in foreclosure litigation at Drewes Law, PLLC. Caitlin received her JD from Georgie Washington University Law School and her BA from Cornell University.

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Maggie Skelton joined the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility as a Senior Attorney in April of this year. Maggie previously worked as a Trial Court Staff Attorney in Hennepin County Juvenile Court in Minneapolis. Before that, she represented Guardians ad Litem in child protection cases and was an Assistant Attorney General in the Charities Division of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. Maggie received her JD from the University of St. Thomas School of Law and her BA from Gustavus Adolphus College.