What ethical obligation do Ohio attorneys have toward unrepresented individuals?

Ohio attorneys have an ethical obligation to clarify their role and avoid misleading unrepresented individuals. This is rooted in the principle that attorneys should not take advantage of the lack of legal knowledge that unrepresented individuals may have. By clearly explaining their role and ensuring that these individuals understand the context of any interactions, attorneys help to maintain the integrity of the legal process and promote fairness.

This obligation is particularly important because unrepresented individuals often rely on attorneys for guidance and may have misconceptions about the legal system. By clarifying their role, attorneys can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure that unrepresented parties do not take incorrect actions based on false assumptions about the attorney’s position or the legal situation.

The other options suggest practices that compromise ethical standards. Providing free legal services is not a requirement; attorneys may choose to do so but are not obligated. Allowing attorneys to mislead unrepresented individuals, even if it supposedly serves a client’s interest, directly contradicts ethical guidelines and could undermine the justice system. Similarly, providing legal advice without limitations would not only be unethical but could also expose unrepresented individuals to harmful legal risks.