In the opinion piece "To speak or not to speak - that is the question", Rui Patrício addresses one of the most sensitive issues in contemporary legal practice: should lawyers speak out or remain silent in the face of the growing media exposure of justice?
Drawing on his extensive professional and academic experience, the author offers a considered reflection on the ethical duties of the profession, responsibility to the client, and the risks of intervention in the public arena. He argues that silence should not be the instinctive response, and that lawyers should speak out in most cases of public visibility — with restraint, sobriety, and a high sense of responsibility.
More than a technical analysis, the article is an invitation to reflect on the practice of law in a context characterised by the influence of public debate on legal proceedings. “We can't turn our backs,” he says, emphasising that the role of the lawyer requires courage, clarity, and an active presence — even under the scrutiny of public opinion.
The article, published on the NOVA CLS blog, can be read here [only available in Portuguese].
