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The worst thing that we can do as lawyers is to be complicit in injustice.

Amal Clooney

Lecture at the London School of Economics, 2019 · Checked on 10 June 2026
The worst thing that we can do as lawyers is to be complicit in injustice.

Analysis

The statement reflects the ethical duty of lawyers to uphold justice and avoid complicity in injustice, as outlined in professional codes of conduct (e.g., ABA Model Rules). Clooney, a prominent human rights lawyer, has consistently advocated for this principle in her work. The claim is a normative ethical stance rather than a factual one, but it is accurate in describing a core legal ethical tenet.

Background

Amal Clooney is a barrister specializing in international law and human rights, often representing clients in high-profile cases involving injustice. The statement was made during a lecture at LSE, where she discussed the role of lawyers in society. Ethical guidelines for lawyers, such as those from the American Bar Association, explicitly prohibit complicity in injustice.

Verdict summary

Amal Clooney's statement aligns with widely accepted ethical principles in the legal profession.

Sources consulted

— ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.2(d) (Prohibiting counsel from assisting in conduct the lawyer knows is criminal or fraudulent)
— Amal Clooney's LSE Lecture (2019) - Transcript available via LSE public archives
— International Bar Association (IBA) Standards for the Legal Profession