There are good aspects to this episode. The performances are great (except for the always wooden Röhm). It brings up the issue of how the basic principles of client-attorney privilege may not always serve the public or how it goes against what we would see as moral. But by presenting in a way so unrealistically is infuriating.
Nothing McCoy does is ethical or could be done. Like someone stated earlier, a jury wouldn't be deciding attorney-client privilege. It's very rare that could be broken and it's an issue only someone who studied law could and should decide on that. From leaking information on the young attorney to the press and trying to push the lawyer's hand to break the law, everything McCoy is doing is wrong.
Also, McCoy and Southerlyn are full of it when they say a law firm would "understand." No. Schwimmer would be disbarred. End of story.
There could be a great episode and discussion about the how attorney-client privilege has fundamental flaws. Instead we are presented with another episode of McCoy doing "the wrong thing for the right reasons."
If the writing staff had a modicum of respect for their audience they could've brought up a compelling argument. Instead they play to emotion and ignore basic facts. Law & Order chose not to portray the circumstances with any connection to reality.
Sorry, Mr. Wolf. Dismissed with prejudice.
Nothing McCoy does is ethical or could be done. Like someone stated earlier, a jury wouldn't be deciding attorney-client privilege. It's very rare that could be broken and it's an issue only someone who studied law could and should decide on that. From leaking information on the young attorney to the press and trying to push the lawyer's hand to break the law, everything McCoy is doing is wrong.
Also, McCoy and Southerlyn are full of it when they say a law firm would "understand." No. Schwimmer would be disbarred. End of story.
There could be a great episode and discussion about the how attorney-client privilege has fundamental flaws. Instead we are presented with another episode of McCoy doing "the wrong thing for the right reasons."
If the writing staff had a modicum of respect for their audience they could've brought up a compelling argument. Instead they play to emotion and ignore basic facts. Law & Order chose not to portray the circumstances with any connection to reality.
Sorry, Mr. Wolf. Dismissed with prejudice.