f/k/a archives . . . real opinions & real haiku

We had forgotten all about ethicalEsq‘s EsqChecker project (an “ethics certification” — seal of approval — program), until last night, while looking for our founding editor’s valedictory post.  In the process, we located Professor Yabut‘s brief self-introduction as the new editor, along with his scandalized account (see below) of the EsqChecker program. [see ethicalEsq Sells Out, April 1, 2004]

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Of course, it’s been almost two years since that naive post by Prof. Y.

Over that time, the legal profession has been consistently advised by

marketing gurus to embrace branding and value billing and such, as a

way to reach out and touch a better class of clients, while claiming

the highest ethical standards (see our prior post).  So, we’re going to

tell you about EsqChecker again, to see if our readers think it is a viable

program.

Here are relevant parts from Professor Yabut’s post, detailing what he found out about EsqChecker:

The self-proclaimed ethicalEsq has apparently abandoned this weblog — to get rich

quick through an “ethics certification” program called EsqChecker.  Previous Editor

vanished so quickly that there has been no time to compose a proper introduction

of myself or our faithful mascot Donkey O. T.

. . Donkey O.T.

our mascot . .

The little that we have learned about the plans and schemes of the so-called ethicalEsq

has been gleaned from metadata hidden in his curt farewell notice.  The hidden text

appears to be the rough draft of a brochure for EsqChecker. Here are its contents:

________________________________

EsqChecker . . . your firm’s key to credibility (and higher profits)

with the EsqChecker logo, you can

leverage the ethicalEsq brand to gain

instant trust and respectability

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– we sent our check to ethicalEsq

and he gave us this one  –

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Is there a Code of Conduct for EsqChecker members?

Of course not.  ethicalEsq respects the self-disciplinary tradition of

the legal profession.  We at EsqChecker take your word (and your

check).

Are any fees involved?

Is that a trick question?  Of course, there are.

How much?

We at EsqChecker, and our parent organization ethicalEsq, PC, strongly

believe that our members come first.  Therefore, we subscribe whole-heartedly

to the concept of value billing.   So, you tell us how much you think it’s worth

to achieve an instant reputation for the highest level of integrity and profession-

alism.  Trust us, if your commitment to integrity is not high enough,we will let

you know.

What else do we need to know about EsqChecker?

If there were more you needed to know, we would have told you.

__________________________________

Postscript: Using metadata-mining techniques unknown to Prof. Yabut, we’ve discovered

another EsqChecker alternative that seems designed to invoke a healthy rivalry among

law firms, to show who cares the most about achieving a reputation for ethical probity.

Here’s the description of EsqChecker Ltd:

EsqChecker Ltd:is a way to stand out among the

crowd of law firms who have jumped on the better-ethics

bandwagon.  By acting quickly and demonstrating an

extraordinary level of commitment to integrity, your firm

can become the exclusive EsqChecker recipient in your

region for your chosen field of law.

This is all very exciting, in a profession where attracting and keeping the best clients

depends more and more on “earning” the best image.  Let us know if you’d like to

become the first law firm on your block to affiliate with ethicalEsq’s exciting program.

do you have yours?