Anne Marie Engel has a passion for the law. As a third-generation attorney, she has grown up understanding the complexities and nuances of the legal system. The legacy she has inherited and embraced is anchored in legal honor, so her mission is to disrupt "a legal culture that has seemingly abandoned its fiduciary duty."
In a profession where lawyers are entrusted as fiduciaries—obligated to uphold the highest standards of care—loyalty, competence, and confidentiality—what are the implications when political agendas supersede these duties?
Engel is committed to inspiring an ethical revolution in the legal field by stressing fiduciary duty as the legal profession's core. Her mission is always to put the client's interest first.
Fiduciary Duty and Legal Ethics
Engel has witnessed the erosion of standards that used to be historically "strictly upheld." Avoiding the "appearance of impropriety" has fallen by the wayside over the years, which can be seen on the national stage. Rather than steadfastly serving their clients and holding themselves to the highest level of integrity, the legal community increasingly reflects a landscape where ideological priorities prevail.
In particular, Engel has noted and expressed concerns that quite a few lawyers prioritize what she considers political agendas over the needs of their clients. This is a violation of ethical standards and is harmful to clients and the profession.
Though Engel believes that lawyers should be responsible for improving their business operations and taking a more proactive position in upholding ethical standards, she asserts that business leaders should also hold their attorneys accountable. Clients should demand higher standards of accountability, and attorneys should impose them on themselves. Engel desires bar associations to enforce ethical standards more stringently to reclaim professional honor.
Engel's approach, as described by a client, is "lawyering like an Italian mom." By this, she means being fiercely protective and loyal to her clientele.
Troubles in the Legal Education and Profession
Though Engel remains primarily concerned about how many lawyers prioritize specific political agendas over their clients, she's also worried about declining standards in the profession. The American Bar Association (ABA) plays a central role in shaping legal education through the accreditation of law schools and its "Model Rules of Professional Conduct." However, the ABA received a $ 4.36 million USAID grant in 2023 for reconciliation and transitional justice activities in Libya, arguably not consistent with its stated mission.
This monopoly in legal education accreditation, she asserts, has hurt the younger generations of lawyers, pointing out what she sees as a "generational divide understanding core legal principles and ethical standards."
It is time, Engel argues, to return to the core legal principles and rule of law where our oath to the U.S. Constitution is non-negotiable.
Criticism of DEI Initiatives
Engel believes in "diversity of thought" and the professional development of "self-agency," embracing different viewpoints from a broad spectrum of belief systems. In Engel's opinion, many Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts are counterproductive and stifle viewpoint diversity. She calls for a "merit-based" approach that includes all viewpoints and backgrounds and the "unwinding of problematic DEI policies."
As businesses deal with a post-DEI world and transition their business practices, they will need help assessing potential legal liabilities, she asserts, and will also need legal guidance with new practices.
With this in mind, Engel is developing a wide range of resources, such as corporate training, speaking engagements, and webinars, to help companies roll back DEI practices that do not comport with the law. She sees great potential in discussing the rollbacks and creating alternatives to the current DEI programs. Engel is excited by the idea of podcasts or panel discussions where these topics can be addressed and debated.
As the business landscape evolves in a post-DEI era, Engel applauds the efforts of the Trump administration to bring back "merit-based and viewpoint diversity."
