The duty in context
Honesty integrity
The lawyer must act with honesty at all times in professional and business dealings and must not engage in fraudulent or deceitful conduct.
How the codes express this duty
E&W Solicitors SRA Principles & Code Principle 4 strong 1,627 cases
You act: 1.4 with honesty.
SRA Principles · 2023 · archived copy · official source ↗
E&W Barristers BSB Handbook CD3; rC9.1; rC8 strong 109 cases
CD3 You must act with honesty, and with integrity. rC9 Your duty to act with honesty and with integrity under CD3 includes the following requirements: .1 you must not knowingly or recklessly mislead or attempt to mislead anyone;
BSB Handbook · current · archived copy · official source ↗
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code 2026 P.3; R.3.1; R.3.2 strong
Attorneys-at-law shall, at all times, act with honesty and integrity... An attorney-at-law's duty to act with honesty and integrity under P.3 includes the requirement that an attorney-at-law shall — (a) not knowingly or recklessly mislead or attempt to mislead anyone
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code of Professional Conduct · 2026 · archived copy
AU Solicitors Solicitors' Conduct Rules Rule 4.1.2 strong 215 cases
A solicitor must also:... 4.1.2 be honest and courteous in all dealings in the course of legal practice.
Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules · 2015 (June 2026 compilation) · archived copy · official source ↗
AU Barristers Uniform Barristers Rules rr12(a),5(c) strong 72 cases
A barrister must not engage in conduct which is: (a) dishonest or otherwise discreditable to a barrister. ... barristers as specialist advocates in the administration of justice, must act honestly, fairly, skilfully and with competence and diligence.
Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules · 2015 (as amended 14 May 2025) · archived copy · official source ↗
IE Solicitors Law Society Guide Ch1 — Core values: Honesty; Ch6 — Professional standard of conduct strong 24 cases
This requires solicitors to be honest and forthright in all professional and business relationships... A solicitor, whether in their professional capacity or otherwise, must not engage in any conduct that is fraudulent, deceitful, or in any way contrary to their position as a solicitor and as an officer of the court.
Solicitor's Guide to Professional Conduct (Law Society of Ireland) · 4th ed. (2022) · archived copy · official source ↗
IE Barristers Bar Code of Conduct Rule 2.3(b) strong 24 cases
It is the duty of Barristers: ... (b) to act at all times with honesty and integrity;
Code of Conduct for the Bar of Ireland · 2024 · archived copy · official source ↗
JM Attorneys Canons of Professional Ethics Canon V(o); Canon I(b); Canon IV strong 157 cases
(o) An Attorney shall not knowingly make a false statement of law or fact. ... [I(b)] An Attorney shall at all times maintain the honour and dignity of the profession ... [IV] AN ATTORNEY SHALL ACT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF HIS CLIENT AND REPRESENT HIM HONESTLY, COMPETENTLY AND ZEALOUSLY WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW.
Legal Profession (Canons of Professional Ethics) Rules · 1978 (principal) · archived copy · official source ↗
JE Lawyers Law Society of Jersey Code P.3; R.4.2 a) strong
Members must, at all times, act with honesty and integrity... A member's duty to act with honesty and integrity under P.3 includes the following requirements: Members must: a) not knowingly or recklessly mislead or attempt to mislead anyone.
Law Society of Jersey Code of Conduct · 1 January 2017 · archived copy · official source ↗
ON Lawyers LSO Rules of Prof. Conduct r 2.1-1 strong
A lawyer has a duty to carry on the practice of law and discharge all responsibilities to clients, tribunals, the public and other members of the profession honourably and with integrity.
Law Society of Ontario — Rules of Professional Conduct · current · archived copy · official source ↗
BC Lawyers BC Code r 2.2-1 strong 31 cases
A lawyer has a duty to carry on the practice of law and discharge all responsibilities to clients, tribunals, the public and other members of the profession honourably and with integrity.
Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia (BC Code) · 2017 · archived copy · official source ↗
NZ Lawyers Conduct & Client Care Rules r 10.9 / r 2.4 strong
A lawyer must not engage in conduct that is misleading or deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive anyone on any aspect of the lawyer's practice. ... A lawyer must not advise a client to engage in conduct that the lawyer knows to be fraudulent or criminal, nor assist any person in an activity that the lawyer knows is fraudulent or criminal.
Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008 · SR 2008/214 · archived copy · official source ↗
SCO Solicitors LSS Standards of Conduct B1.2 strong 53 cases
You must be trustworthy and act honestly at all times so that your personal integrity is beyond question.
Law Society of Scotland — Practice Rules 2011, Rule B1 (Standards of Conduct) · 2011 · archived copy · official source ↗
SG Lawyers Professional Conduct Rules 2015 r 5 (Honesty, competence and diligence) strong 37 cases
5 Honesty, competence and diligence
Legal Profession (Professional Conduct) Rules 2015 · 2015 · archived copy · official source ↗
HK Solicitors Solicitors' Guide Principle 13.01 strong
A solicitor must not act, whether in his professional capacity or otherwise, towards anyone in a way which is fraudulent, deceitful or otherwise contrary to his position as a solicitor, nor must he use his position as a solicitor to take unfair advantage either for himself or another person.
Hong Kong Solicitors' Guide to Professional Conduct (Volume 1) · current · archived copy · official source ↗
HK Barristers Bar Code of Conduct para 4.1(b)(i) strong
not to engage in conduct (whether in pursuit of his profession or otherwise) which is:- (i) dishonest or otherwise discreditable to a barrister;
Code of Conduct of the Bar of the Hong Kong SAR · 2018 · archived copy · official source ↗
Cases dealing with this duty
2,273 decisions · link basis: found breached = a tribunal finding; rule cited = the mapped provision is cited in the decision; text match = high-precision text pattern
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Abiodun Oludare Odunlami
Breaches, Failures, Others, Solicitors' Accounts Rules
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Laurence Ian Ward & Colette Maria Farrell
Breaches, Failures, Others, Solicitors' Accounts Rules
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Robin Alastair Jackson & Another
Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, Others
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Gauri Advani
Others
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CORRIN LINDSAY CAINE
Unsatisfactory Professional Misconduct
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Seosamh O’Daimhin
In the matter of Seosamh O’Daimhin (otherwise Joseph Devine), solicitor, practising as Devine Solicitors at 9 O’Rahilly Street, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2008 [6260/DT106/09 and…
strike_off View decision -
David Christopher MACKIE
Guilty of professional misconduct on 2 charges.
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Joseph Anthony Allen
Struck off, Restitution Ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered October 14, 2010. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEEOF THE GENERAL LEGAL COMPLAINT NO.: 65/2010 BETWEEN DENNIS WHITE COMPLAINANT A…
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MARTIN LEE SEGLER
Professional Misconduct and Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct and Suspended
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Howard A. Lettman
unavailable | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered September 28, 2010. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL Complaint #45/2008 IN THE MATTER of the Complaint by SHEILA BALFOU…
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DAVID CHARLES LEASK
Professional Misconduct
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DAMIEN GERARD BRENNAN
Struck Off the Roll of Practitioners
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Joseph Traynor
In the matter of Joseph Traynor, solicitor, formerly practising as Traynor & Company, Solicitors, 86 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co Louth, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2008 [5554/DT01/10 and High Court…
strike_off View decision -
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O'donnell, John Alexander
1. Wilfully breached Sections 255 and 264 of Legal Profession Act 2004 - relating to trust funds 2. Wilfully breached Section 264 of the Legal Profession Act 2004 - handling of trust moneys 3. Misappropriated funds 4. F…
Costs Removal of practitioner's name from the Roll of Local Lawyers $0.00 Proceedings Instituted 1 PDF View decision -
Nguyen, Michelle My
Making a false declaration in Application for Practising Certificate — Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct
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Tran, My Yen Thi
Making a false declaration in Application for Practising Certificate — Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct
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Mavrakis, George John
1. Breach of Sections 253, 254, 255 & 260 of the Legal Profession Act 2004 - relating to trust funds 2. Misappropriation of trust funds 3. Breach of Rule 12 of the Revised Professional Conduct & Practice Rules 1995 by b…
Conditions on Practising Certificate Costs Fine Practitioner to undertake and complete further legal education Reprimand Mentoring of solicitor by Senior Solicitor $3,000.00 Proceedings Instituted 1 PDF View decision -
PAUL ERNEST MASTEN
Professional Misconduct
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DAMIEN GERARD BRENNAN
Professional Misconduct
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Carlton H. Campbell
Compensation | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered March 28, 2010. View PDF IN THE MATTER of MILLICENT FORREST v CARLTON CAMPBELL, an Attorney-at-Law AND IN THE MATTER of the Legal Profession Act. Complaint No. 23…
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David O'Shea
In the matter of David O’Shea, solicitor, formerly practising at O’Donovan Solicitors, 73 Capel Street, Dublin 1, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2008 [6743/DT63/09 and High Court record no 2009 no108 SA] …
other View decision -
Trevor Ruddock
Struck off, Repayment & Restitution Ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered February 13, 2010. View PDF JUDGEMENT OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE COMPLAINT NO. 74 OF 2003 BETWEEN JOAN BURKETT POWELL COMPLAINAN…
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Mary Miley
In the matter of Mary Miley, solicitor, formerly practising as Mary Miley & Co, Solicitors, at Brewery Place, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2008 [3916/DT18/09 and High Court record …
strike_off View decision -
Mary Miley
In the matter of Mary Miley, solicitor, formerly practising as Mary Miley & Co, Solicitors, at Brewery Place, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2008 [3916/DT39/09 and High Court record …
strike_off View decision
Duty classification does not yet cover every jurisdiction (Ontario, New Zealand and Singapore decisions are indexed but not yet duty-classified), so counts here understate those corpora.