In Re Evans’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

1 district · 13 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 14 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “(a) A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client. Competent representation requires the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and preparation reasonably necessary for the representation. (b) A lawyer shall serve a client with skill and care commensurate with that generally afforded to clients by other lawyers in similar matters.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. In Re Olekanma A. Ekekwe-Kauffman · In re Stephen T.Yelverton

2. “(a) A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client. Competent representation requires the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and. preparation reasonably necessary for the representation. (b) A lawyer shall serve a client with skill and care commensurate with that generally afforded to clients by other lawyers in similar matters. In In re Evans, the Court explained that To prove a violation [of Rule 1.1(a)], Bar Counsel must not only show that the attorney failed to apply his or her skill and knowledge, but that this failure constituted a serious deficiency in the representation. . , . The determination of what constitutes a “serious deficiency" is fact specific. It has generally been found in cases where the attorney makes an error that prejudices or could have prejudiced a client and the error was caused by a lack of competence. .. . Mere careless errors do not rise to the level of incompetence. 902 A.2d at 69-70 (citations omitted); see also In re Ford, 797 A2d 1231, 1231 (D.C. 2002) (per curiam) (Rule 1.1(a) violation requires proof of “serious deficiency” in attorney’s competence).”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. In re Speights

3. “includes inquiry into and analysis of the factual and legal elements of the problem, and use of methods and procedures meeting the standards of competent practitioners. It also includes adequate preparation and continuing attention to the needs of the representation to assure that there is no neglect of such needs. The required attention and preparation are determined in part by what is at stake; major litigation and complex transactions ordinarily require more elaborate treatment than matters of lesser consequence.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. In re Speights