Being Ethical
(SQE Advocacy Assessed skill - see www.sra.org.uk)
A competent advocate should be able to:
• Follow professional rules, principles and codes of conduct related to standards and regulation and act honestly and with integrity.
• Comply with and observe equality, diversity and inclusion in their treatment of others.
• Understand, identify and observe professional rules, principles and codes of conduct in both working life and social life (where behaviours would impact on life in practice).
• Recognise ethical issues and use effective judgment to solve ethical dilemmas.
• Be selfless, objective, transparent and rational in their decision-taking.
• Show an awareness of and apply professional rules, principles and codes of conduct to accounting and financial matters.
• Deal with unforeseen circumstances by finding appropriate and ethical solutions.
• Avoid unethical behavior that could lead to disciplinary proceedings and/or the imposition of a wasted costs order by the court by resisting pressure to condone or adopt such behaviour.
• Resist any pressures by the client to act unethically and explain the ethical framework that advocates must operate under and manage their expectations.
• Know that where professional rules and codes of conduct conflict, an advocate should follow the one that best serves the public interest.