var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.pubads().disableInitialLoad(); });
device = device.default;
//this function refreshes [adhesion] ad slot every 60 second and makes prebid bid on it every 60 seconds // Set timer to refresh slot every 60 seconds function setIntervalMobile() { if (!device.mobile()) return if (adhesion) setInterval(function(){ googletag.pubads().refresh([adhesion]); }, 60000); } if(device.desktop()) { googletag.cmd.push(function() { leaderboard_top = googletag.defineSlot('/22018898626/LC_Article_detail_page', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1591620860846-0').setTargeting('pos', ['1']).setTargeting('div_id', ['leaderboard_top']).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); }); } else if(device.tablet()) { googletag.cmd.push(function() { leaderboard_top = googletag.defineSlot('/22018898626/LC_Article_detail_page', [320, 50], 'div-gpt-ad-1591620860846-0').setTargeting('pos', ['1']).setTargeting('div_id', ['leaderboard_top']).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); }); } else if(device.mobile()) { googletag.cmd.push(function() { leaderboard_top = googletag.defineSlot('/22018898626/LC_Article_detail_page', [320, 50], 'div-gpt-ad-1591620860846-0').setTargeting('pos', ['1']).setTargeting('div_id', ['leaderboard_top']).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); }); } googletag.cmd.push(function() { // Enable lazy loading with... googletag.pubads().enableLazyLoad({ // Fetch slots within 5 viewports. // fetchMarginPercent: 500, fetchMarginPercent: 100, // Render slots within 2 viewports. // renderMarginPercent: 200, renderMarginPercent: 100, // Double the above values on mobile, where viewports are smaller // and users tend to scroll faster. mobileScaling: 2.0 }); });

Attorney-Client Privilege and the Ohio State University Scandal

Most law firms avoid posting jobs on Indeed or LinkedIn due to high costs. Instead, they publish them on their own websites, bar association pages, and niche legal boards. LawCrossing finds these hidden jobs, giving you access to exclusive opportunities. Sign up now!

published September 18, 2012

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Attorney-client privilege is a serious matter and not to be trifled with, as Columbus lawyer Christopher T. Cicero is learning to his chagrin while fighting to keep his law license. To be an attorney, sometimes, it seems to be a task of being human and inhuman at the same time. Human, because we need to empathize with our clients in order to serve them, and inhuman because we need to suppress our everyday human frailties and needs as social animals, when it comes to sharing information about clients, as also potential, or would-be clients.
 
Columbus lawyer Christopher T. Cicero’s role in the Buckeyes scandal

This situational conflict is especially acute for solo lawyers or for lawyers whose leads and clients come from within a relatively dense social network. A prime case on the point is that of Mr. Cicero who is struggling before the Ohio Supreme Court to avoid a recommended six-month suspension of his law license, as of September 11, 2012. Since the case is still ongoing, it is difficult to assess the outcome, but it is sufficient to illustrate the kind of problem that a lawyer working within dense social networks can land himself in.

Don't act like a whistleblower if you are not in the shoes of one and your actions unprotected by law

In the instant case, it was attorney Cicero's emails to the coach of the Ohio State University Football players, Jim Tressel that caused the incident. Emails of warning sent by Cicero to Tressel about the players of the football team selling memorabilia to a tattoo parlor owner, who also moonlighted as a marijuana dealer brought the scandal to fore.

The court's disciplinary arm had previously found that Cicero had violated the confidences of would-be-client Edward Rife, when he wrote emails to former OSU football coach Tressel warning him about the players selling OSU gear to Rife. They recommended a six-month suspension of law license, over which Cicero is now appealing before the Supreme Court, but his chances seem weak.

The Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline held that Cicero had violated attorney-client privilege and gave testimony that was “disingenuous and not credible.” While Cicero tried to establish that he learned of the memorabilia sales before he even met Rife, and therefore did not breach attorney-client privilege, the prosecution pointed out that in an April 2010 email to Tressel, which was after Cicero met Rife, Cicero had mentioned a raid by federal authorities on Rife's home, and how the federal authorities overlooked seizing $70,000 in cash.

United States
In this case, there is sufficient evidence to prove that the tattoo parlor owner, Edward Rife, was personally close to Cicero, and so close within his social network that he would pick Cicero to represent him in the case, and close enough that Cicero could not back out of the situation. Rife is now in prison serving a “three-year” sentence, but he complained that he was “betrayed” by Cicero's emails.

Though Cicero argued at court that his knowledge about Rife and the selling of OUS memorabilia by football team players was general knowledge, the court or disciplinary authorities did not buy his arguments. When asked by the court how Cicero learned of the activities of the football players and Edward Rife, which he warned Tressel about, Cicero's lawyer told the Ohio Supreme Court: “He learned it on the streets.” Cicero also submitted that he had learned of the transactions from a long-time client who knew Rife. But the court did not buy the arguments.

Justice Maureen O'Connor asked, “Generally known by whom?” and Justice Yvette McGee Brown, denounced Cicero's defense claims as a “red herring.” Reasonably, the justices were skeptical that the public in the streets of Columbus generally knew what was going on at Edward Rife's tattoo parlor.

Such defenses were too weak to cover up Cicero's breach of confidence as the prosecution pointed out. If the knowledge claimed by Cicero was ‘general knowledge' then what was the need to warn Tressel?

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of law practice, but in this case, it seems, Cicero lacked the ability to overcome the temptation of proving to Tressel that he was ‘'street-wise” and received news from the “grapevine,” a common ploy of errant lawyers intent on grooming clients, not upon their expertise, but upon their “connections.”

About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

  • Immigration law
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Insurance defense
  • Family law
  • Trusts & estates
  • Municipal law
  • And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

  • Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
  • Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
  • Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
  • Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

  • Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
  • Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
  • Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

  • Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
  • Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
  • Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
  • Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.
Gain an advantage in your legal job search. LawCrossing uncovers hidden positions that firms post on their own websites and industry-specific job boards—jobs that never appear on Indeed or LinkedIn. Don't miss out. Sign up now!

( 4 votes, average: 3.9 out of 5)

What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.