St. Francis School of Law Advisory Council member Teresa Schmid spoke to the Orange County Bar Association’s Immigration Lawyers on Ethics and Competence.  Schmid was joined by St. Francis’ Dean Carole J. Buckner.  The talk focused in particular on how immigration attorneys and their clients can experience issues arising from the stress and uncertainty created by immigration matters.

Dean Buckner addressed the lawyer’s duties of competence and diligence in connection with their representation of clients.  She addressed mechanisms for coping with the uncertainty associated with immigration practice, including the availability of support through the California State Bar.

Ms. Schmid, and former State Bar prosecutor and current chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee, addressed the role of the California State Bar in regulating the profession with a focus on the competence of California lawyers.