What should a barrister do if asked to participate in wrongdoing?

• A. Refuse representation and withdraw.
• B. Proceed if fee is high.
• C. Ignore request and continue.
• D. Assist but report afterward.

Answer: (A)

When a barrister is asked to participate in wrongdoing, the essential duty is to refuse and withdraw. Lawyers must uphold the integrity of the legal process and cannot assist, encourage, or facilitate illegal or improper conduct. Engaging in the wrongdoing would breach professional obligations, expose the barrister to disciplinary action, and undermine the administration of justice. None of the other options is appropriate: payment or coercive incentives do not justify involvement; ignoring the request permits the wrongdoing to proceed; attempting to assist and then report afterward still amounts to facilitating the act and is not a proper remedy. The responsible course is to decline the instruction and disengage from the representation.