Ethics of Civility and Respect: Managing Challenging Interactions with Difficult Individuals Encountered in the Legal Profession (2025 Edition)

Cari L. Sheehan | Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

With over 15 years of legal experience in civil litigation, conflicts of interest, and professional responsibility, Cari serves as Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP’s Assistant General Counsel. In this role, she advises firm attorneys with respect to ethics compliance, risk prevention, and conflicts of interest. In addition, she assists in the review and negotiation of outside counsel guidelines, conflict waivers and engagement letters, and other items with ethical implications. In addition, she assists in providing ethical training and education within the firm to its attorneys and staff.

Cari is an Adjunct Professor at the IU Robert H. McKinney School where she teaches Professional Responsibility. She is also a former Assistant Clinical Professor of Business Law and Ethics at the Kelley School of Business. She is passionate about promoting ethical awareness, integrity, and professionalism in the legal and business fields and contributing to the advancement of knowledge and practice in these domains.

Cari is a frequent presenter and author on ethics and professionalism in the legal industry. She is a reoccurring author with the Res Gestae regarding the Ethics Curbstone and has been quoted in publications for her knowledge on ethical topics. Cari is also an avid speaker having given over 200 seminars on ethics and professionalism for various local and national platforms. Her primary area of research is regarding the ethics of AI and how it affects the legal and business community.

I. Civility and Respect in Legal Interactions | 3:00pm – 3:20pm

• Importance of civility in fostering collaborative legal environments
• How respect for opposing counsel and parties strengthens the legal process
• Addressing the decline in civility and ways to promote professionalism
• The role of emotional intelligence in maintaining professionalism in legal settings

II. Changes in Advocacy Approaches in a Post-Pandemic, Post-Impeachment World | 3:20pm – 3:40pm

• How the pandemic reshaped legal practice and advocacy approaches
• Re-evaluating the role of “zealous advocacy” in a modern legal context
• Balancing advocacy with respect for opposing counsel and the court
• Understanding evolving ethical expectations in light of public figures and national events

III. Effective Communication with Courts, Clients, and Counsel in the Electronic Age | 3:40pm – 4:00pm

• Best practices for email, video conferencing, and other digital communication tools
• Maintaining professionalism in virtual settings, including hearings and depositions
• The growing role of social media in legal practice and ethical considerations
• Ensuring clear, respectful, and effective communication in written and oral formats

Break | 4:00pm – 4:10pm

IV. Strategies for Managing Challenging Interactions with Difficult Individuals in the Legal Profession | 4:10pm – 4:40pm

• Identifying challenging personalities and behaviors commonly encountered in legal practice
• Approaches for de-escalating tense situations with clients, opposing counsel, and colleagues
• Conflict resolution techniques for attorneys working with difficult parties
• Maintaining professional conduct in high-pressure situations