This chapter explores how lawyers can balance their obligations to promote their clients’ interests and their obligations to third parties. While there are circumstances in which duties are owed to third parties, these are limited. The law and ethical codes struggle to ensure that, even when these duties are imposed, they are not used to undermine the relationship between lawyer and client. The regulations ensure that the lawyer never acts against the best interests of the client. The chapter explores the guidance issued by the professional codes of practice. It also looks at the practice of giving an undertaking, which is an important aspect of some lawyer’s work.
