Eschewing 'tit for tat' in client (dis)courtesy [online]

Professional rules identify, as a 'fundamental' ethical duty, that lawyers be "courteous in all dealings with clients, other practitioners and other persons involved in a matter where the practitioner acts for a client". As to lawyer-client dealings, treating clients courteously, and with attendant respect, is arguably easiest vis-a-vis clients who exhibit corresponding courtesy and respect, and whose words and actions are punctuated by both reasonableness and deference to the lawyer's advice. In a utopian world of legal practice, populated by 'model clients', courtesy and respect is hardly too much to ask of lawyers.