What is unethical for a lawyer to do when it comes to evidence?

Prepare for the California Bar Professional Responsibility Exam. Test your knowledge with our comprehensive quiz! Master legal ethics and get exam-ready with practice questions, detailed explanations, and study tools.

Intentionally destroying or concealing documents is considered unethical behavior for a lawyer because it undermines the integrity of the legal process and violates the duty of candor to the court. Lawyers have an obligation to uphold the law and ensure that all relevant evidence is disclosed to the court and opposing parties. Destruction or concealment of evidence can not only impede justice but also lead to severe professional consequences, including disciplinary action, sanctions, and potential criminal liability.

This unethical action directly subverts the adversarial system by preventing the truth from coming to light and erodes trust in the legal profession as a whole. Lawyers must act in a manner that promotes fairness and transparency, which is fundamentally compromised when they resort to unethical practices like tampering with evidence.

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