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Why must lawyers avoid tactics that would interfere with fair administration of justice?

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illustration from Charles Dickens's Bleak House — Legal ethics Illustration by Hablot Knight Browne for Charles Dickens's *Bleak House*. Here Lady Dedlock is visited by her cunning old lawyer, who discovers her deepest secret and threatens to reveal it to her husband.

Lawyers must avoid tactics that interfere with the fair administration of justice because they serve a dual role: while they are advocates for their clients' private interests, they are also officers of the court with a significant public responsibility.1

This professional obligation is rooted in the fundamental need to uphold the integrity of the legal system. Because legal systems are complex, society relies on qualified practitioners to navigate the law; historically, the absence of ethical standards led to abuses such as obstructive tactics, dishonesty, and incompetence, which necessitated the development of professional ethics.12

Even when working vigorously to advance a client's case, a lawyer’s conduct must align with the broader goal of ensuring that justice is administered fairly. By eschewing tactics that undermine this process, lawyers fulfill their duty to the state and maintain the public's trust in the legal system's ability to reach just outcomes.1