f/k/a . . .

Weakend Special: Lawyers are known for their annoying insistence on verbal clarity AND their use of words to obscure meanings — depending, of course, on whose ox might be gored.

Code (from OneLook Dictionary Search Quick Definitions):

noun: a coding system used for transmitting messages requiring brevity or secrecy

noun: a set of rules or principles or laws especially written ones

verb: convert ordinary language into code

Rule (from OneLook Dictionary Search Quick Definitions):

noun: prescribed guide for conduct or action

noun: directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted

noun: dominance or power through legal authority

verb: exercise authority over

verb: be larger in number, quantity, or importance

Profession (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia): 

“A profession is a specialized work function within society. A profession is always held by a person, and it is generally that person’s way of generating income. Some historians believe that the foundation of modern civilization is division of labour into different professions, thus increasing the level of expertise held by professionals. ‘Profession’ is very often restricted to include only those occupations requiring extensive study, such as law, medicine, the Church or engineering. . . . Note that sociologists have been known to define “professionalism” as organised exclusivity along guild lines, much in the sense that George Bernard Shaw characterised all professions as “conspiracies against the laity”.

Sanction (from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000, on bartleby.com):

noun:  Authoritative permission or approval that makes a course of action valid.

noun:  Support or encouragement, as from public opinion or established custom.

noun:  A penalty, specified or in the form of moral pressure, that acts to ensure compliance or conformity.

verb: To give official authorization or approval to. 

verb: To encourage or tolerate by indicating approval.

verb: To penalize, especially for violating a moral principle or international compact.

Oversight  (from OneLook Dictionary Search Quick Definitions):

noun: a mistake resulting from inattention

noun: an unintentional omission resulting from failure to notice something

noun: management by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group

Responsible (from OneLook Dictionary Search Quick Definitions):

adjective: being the agent or cause

adjective: worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable

adjective: having an acceptable credit rating

Discipline (from OneLook Dictionary Search Quick Definitions):

noun: training to improve strength or self-control

noun: the act of punishing

noun: the trait of being well behaved

noun: a system of rules of conduct or method of practice

noun: a branch of knowledge

self-reg·u·lat·ing (from Dictionary.com) 

adjective:

1. Regulating oneself or itself.

2. Regulating itself automatically.

Trust (from OneLook Dictionary Search Quick Definitions):

noun: the trait of trusting; of believing in the honesty and reliability of others

noun: a consortium of companies formed to limit competition

verb: extend credit to

verb: have confidence or faith in

verb: expect with desire

The The Word on Lawyer Discipline: Maybe They DO Mean What They Say by David Giacalone, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.