I agree that in private industry it's common practice to give nice things to people who can do you favors, and that there is a lot of latitude before you cross the line into bribery. As a solo practitioner, I certainly can accept gifts from my clients, as it's impossible for my own client to bribe me. I am occasionally offered to be taken to lunch by chiropractors who want to get referrals, but I never accept them. I sometimes have lunch with opposing counsel, but we go dutch. I sometimes have lunch with judges, but never ones that I am appearing before. I used to be partners with a guy who used to be partners with a judge, at different times, and I never appear before that judge, my cases get referred to someone else. At Christmas time, I can give goodies to the court clerks, but the judges can't accept them. Lawyers have a very clear-cut code of ethics, and we are required to have twelve hours in refresher courses, every year, two of which must be in ethics.
I think federal employees are trained in making fine ethical distictions, too. For example, my husband is a patent examiner, specializing in water purification and filtration. I never know what he is working on, because it is confidential until it is published. Also, he is not allowed to invest in companies that make water purification and filtration devices, nor am I, nor is he even allowed to discuss the technology, really. |
