The rules of self-preservation

Towards the start of the week the chief legal ombudsman, Adam Sampson, resigned the position he has held for five years pending a detailed investigation by the National Audit Office into a 'novel and contentious' expenses arrangement which has been in place throughout his tenure. Despite there being no suggestion that Sampson has been dishonest, he took the decision to resign as "an ombudsman must be a figure above controversy."

Later in the week, a high-profile politician and lawyer resigned her position after making what proved to be an error of judgement on Twitter. In the run-up to the Rochester by-election, the shadow attorney general, Emily Thornberry, tweeted a photo of a house in the Kent constituency, draped with flags of St George and with a white van parked outside, using the caption 'Image from #Rochester'.

Immediately accused of 'sneering' by opposition MPs, the tweet attracted the attention of many online critics. Further attacks followed, ultimately resulting in the former barrister's resignation from the shadow cabinet. Ill-judged? Out of touch with the electorate? However you view it, it has become yet another example of how those in positions of influence, power and in the public eye are more vulnerable and susceptible to criticism.

These rules of reputation management (and self-preservation) apply to all legal professionals, wherever you consider yourself to be in the hierarchy. We must each be in a position to stand up to scrutiny and show ourselves to have unimpeachable personal and professional standards, way beyond those required by the SRA.

As we progress through our careers, it becomes even more important to lead by example and be beyond reproach, within our firms, organisations and in public life. We are even judged by the company we keep, as former Law Society president and Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf discovered last month, which ultimately led to her own high-profile resignation from the government's child abuse inquiry.

How we behave not only applies to the law, but to how we present ourselves on a daily basis to our clients and colleagues. The role of senior lawyers is not only to ensure that staff do not misbehave, but to ensure that we are holding up the standards of the profession, always aware of the influence we have. The rules might not be written down and breaking them might not land you in prison, but reputations are fragile and so, it seems, are careers. Poor judgement may be forgivable, but rarely is it forgotten.

Kevin Poulter, editor at large

@SJ_Weekly

#SJPOULTER

editorial@solicitorsjournal.co.uk

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