California To Implement Civility Pledge for Lawyers As Harmony Law Leads by Example
In 2026, California will become the first state to require attorneys to take an annual civility oath. Golden State lawyers will promise to conduct themselves with dignity, courtesy, and integrity. At Harmony Law, we acknowledge that this is a major step for a profession long associated with sharp-elbowed tactics and a win-at-all-costs mentality. Changing this paradigm is is the very reason Harmony Law was established.
While the legal world often glamorizes aggressive behavior, research shows that incivility is contributing to chronic stress among lawyers, undermining public trust, and making it harder for people to rely on the justice system.
According to Reuters, a 2025 Gallup survey found that only 17% of Americans view lawyers as having high honesty and ethics. Judges and academics point to incivility as a driving factor behind those low numbers. Derogatory comments, personal insults, and strategically hostile tactics, such as burying opposing counsel in unnecessary paperwork or refusing reasonable scheduling requests, have become common.
Studies also reveal that women, people of color, and other marginalized groups bear the brunt of this behavior. Judges say incivility slows cases, heightens conflict, and turns already difficult matters into needlessly painful experiences. In family law, it can deepen emotional wounds. In personal injury cases, it distracts from what matters most: helping injured clients rebuild their lives with dignity.
California’s new annual oath is intended to push the profession toward a healthier culture. The rule requires every lawyer to reaffirm a pledge of civility each time they pay their annual bar dues. While other states have civility-related rules, California’s approach is one of the most visible and public-facing efforts yet. Some states, such as Florida, Michigan, South Carolina, New Jersey, and Arizona (where Harmony Law is headquartered), already allow discipline for uncivil conduct. California declined to take that step for now, citing concerns about free speech and vagueness, but the growing national push for a more respectful legal culture is unmistakable.
At Harmony Law, this shift is nothing new. Civility has never been a rule we needed to be told to follow; it has always been central to how we practice. In family law, we recognize that clients are not just facing legal challenges, they are experiencing some of the most personal and emotionally complex chapters of their lives.
Our attorneys approach these cases with clarity, empathy, and a commitment to reducing conflict instead of amplifying it. In personal injury matters, we know that aggressive showmanship does nothing to help an injured client heal. Instead of theatrics, we focus on careful strategy, honest communication, and advocacy grounded in understanding the human impact of an injury. We have never subscribed to the idea that hostility is strength. We believe professionalism, compassion, and steady, thoughtful advocacy produce better outcomes and healthier attorney-client relationships.
Harmony Law is a national law firm based in Arizona. If you are in California or another state, we may be able to match you with a Harmony Law attorney licensed where you live, someone closely vetted for exceptional quality of service, skill, and a compassionate, human-centered approach to legal representation.
Speak With an Attorney Who Treats Your Case With Civility
If you’re seeking a family law or personal injury attorney who values professionalism, clear communication, and client-centered advocacy, Harmony Law is here for you.
Call us at (888) 427-1280 to schedule a confidential consultation.
