Greed and the Seven Deadly Sins: Treacherous for the Soul and Legal Ethics

Abstract

As religious, philosophical, and cultural ideas, the Seven Deadly Sins occupy a common understanding of the worst behaviors that plague human relationships. Pride. Greed. Lust. Envy. Gluttony. Wrath. Sloth. Not exactly the traits that you seek in mutually beneficial relationships! Striving for universal appeal, this novel Article presents the Seven Deadly Sins as a useful construct to explain why lawyers commit major ethical violations. The underlying premise is that one or more of the Seven Deadly Sins lies behind every major ethical violation. Focusing on greed specifically, this Article demonstrates how greed first enters one’s thoughts to acquire wealth. As a lawyer feeds on greedy thoughts, the lawyer becomes bigger while others—most significantly, the client—become smaller. From the greedy lawyer’s vantage, “I” grows far larger than “you.” As the insatiable desire to acquire more wealth burns hotter, even at the expense and to the harm of others, the lawyer is consumed by greedy thoughts until greedy conduct ignites. As greed fuels the lawyer to relentlessly pursue more wealth, the lawyer’s ability to recognize greed’s impact on others is diminished. Predictably, greedy conduct inevitably harms others. This Article contends that lawyers can utilize the Seven Deadly Sins as a compelling construct to comprehend what drives greedy and harmful conduct. This construct will equip lawyers to travel a virtuous path that leads away from ethical misconduct and its catastrophic consequences to clients.

Keywords: Seven Deadly Sins, Golden Rule, Greed, Legal Ethics, Legal Profession, Professional Responsibility, Model Rules of Professional Conduct, Ethics, Lawyers, Attorney-Client Relationship, Misconduct, Legal Education, ABA, Loyalty, Aquinas, Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, Dante, Divine Comedy, Two Wolves

JEL Classification: K00, K10, K19, K20, K30, K40, K41, K42, K49, Z12