Professional integrity as part of the duty to set an example in advocacy: Reflections from the "Telmo Case"

Abstract

The present article is based on the complaint filed against lawyer María Paola Carbajal Ponce before the Ethics Committee of the Bar Association of Lima, for having committed ethical violations towards her intern, Telmo Paz. Specifically, reference is made to the audio recording exposing the verbal abuse the intern received for being dissatisfied with the assigned work. In this regard, it is argued that the filing of the complaint, its admission for processing, and subsequent favorable resolution - although still insufficient - by the Ethics Committee set a precedent on how ethical violations towards interns should be addressed. Furthermore, it is emphasized that lawyers have obligations beyond those created with their clients or workplaces, which include being upright and setting an example of professionalism for their peers, with particular emphasis on professionals in training. Finally, it is also discussed that mistreatment and horizontal workplace harassment towards interns and professionals is systematic, and even part of the culture and identity of the notion of "proper" legal professional training, especially in law firms. This warns of the lack of training with an ethical focus, as it builds unquestionable impunity and loyalty towards environments of vertical harassment and violence when, naturally, "paying one's dues" should not be the norm.