We've spent a lot of time lately talking about civility. We
all know why it has become the topic du jour, but my impetus is
actually the recent Hartford County Bar Association symposium. As a
speaker and interested participant, I looked around the court room
where the event was being held, and I saw many judges and
middle-aged lawyers. Where were our younger colleagues? Probably
worrying about billable hours, or all current with their CLE
credits. Everyone who spoke, used the phrase: "we're
speaking to the choir." So how do we expand the choir and why
do we care?
I think we can agree that civility—treating others with
courtesy, dignity, and respect—makes a lawyer a more
effective advocate while incivility can cause many adverse
consequences, including losing a client's case, increasing the
costs to the client, ostracism from the legal community and
promulgating the public's negative perceptions of lawyers.
These situations are distinct from instances in which
