#120: Hilary Gerzhoy - Legal Ethics and Malpractice Lawyer
Sep 1, 2023
auto_awesome
Hilary Gerzhoy, Vice Chair of HWG LLP's Legal Ethics and Malpractice group, discusses her journey to becoming a lawyer, the unique nature of legal ethics and malpractice work, the future of legal work and AI, the surge in high-profile legal ethics cases, joining legal committees and making connections, and advice for those entering the legal profession.
Legal ethics is a crucial aspect of the legal profession, governed by professional responsibility committees and rules of conduct.
A career in legal ethics requires good social and emotional intelligence, effective communication, and involvement in legal committees.
Deep dives
The Practice of Legal Ethics and Malpractice
In this podcast episode, Hilary Gergewey, a vice chair of H.W.G. LLP's Legal Ethics and Malpractice group, discusses her work representing lawyers before disciplinary bodies and delves into the importance of legal ethics in the legal profession. She explains the role of professional responsibility committees and the rules of professional conduct that govern lawyers' behavior. Hilary shares her own path to becoming a legal ethics lawyer, highlighting the skills needed for this area of practice, such as good social and emotional intelligence and empathy. She also explores the future of legal ethics, including the impact of AI and potential changes in rules, as well as the importance of being involved in legal committees to contribute to the profession.
Navigating the Legal Ethics Landscape
Drawing from her experience as a legal ethics lawyer, Hilary Gergewey discusses the daily life of a legal ethics practitioner. She shares that her day is varied, working on multiple matters involving disciplinary cases, admissions issues, and representing lawyers in unauthorized practice of law matters. Hilary explains the importance of effective communication in her practice, which involves frequent phone calls and email exchanges with clients. She also highlights the significance of social and emotional intelligence in dealing with clients' challenging situations. Additionally, Hilary emphasizes the benefits of being involved in legal committees and the role they play in shaping the legal profession.
Challenges and Trends in Legal Ethics
Hilary Gergewey sheds light on the challenges and trends in the field of legal ethics. She discusses the potential impact of artificial intelligence on legal ethics, highlighting the ethical considerations that arise when utilizing AI in legal practice. Additionally, she addresses the evolving landscape of unauthorized practice of law, particularly in the context of remote work arrangements and the implications for lawyers practicing across multiple jurisdictions. Hilary also discusses the increased focus on legal ethics in high-profile cases involving lawyers in political roles, emphasizing the importance of upholding integrity in the legal profession.
Reflections and Advice for Legal Ethics Practice
In this episode, Hilary Gergewey offers reflections and advice for those considering a career in legal ethics. She highlights the importance of enjoying interactions with fellow lawyers and developing social connections within the legal community. Hilary stresses the significance of empathy and emotional intelligence in assisting clients during challenging moments. Furthermore, she encourages individuals to explore different paths within the legal profession and not to fear making changes to find a fulfilling practice area. Lastly, Hilary emphasizes the value of writing about legal ethics to establish a professional presence and demonstrate expertise in the field.
In today’s episode I speak with Hilary Gerzhoy who is a Vice Chair of HWG LLP’s Legal Ethics and Malpractice group where she focuses her work on legal ethics, white collar defense, and complex civil litigation.
She has represented lawyers before various disciplinary bodies at both state and federal levels, including the USPTO’s Office of Enrollment and Discipline and the DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility. Hilary is deeply involved in the legal community. She is the Vice Chair of the D.C. Bar Rules of Professional Conduct Review Committee, she is on the ABA’s Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee, and she is on the DC Circuit Admissions and Grievances Committee.
Hilary uses her expertise in legal ethics to teach as an adjunct professor of professional responsibility at Georgetown Law (Hoya Saxa) and she is also a regular author in the legal and popular press on topics related to legal ethics. Hilary earned her JD from the University of California Berkeley School of Law and her BA from the University of Chicago.
In our conversation we discuss her path to the law, the unique nature of legal ethics and malpractice work, what it is like to be a lawyer representing lawyers, her public facing writing and publishing, the importance of her volunteer work serving legal organizations and on bar committees, and more.
