Final answer:
A young lawyer advising on power of attorney must offer competent, informed, and diligent advice, avoid conflicts of interest, and be clear about the clients' rights and potential implications of their decisions, such as deportation risks for non-citizens.
Step-by-step explanation:
A young lawyer giving advice about power of attorney at a local retirement home must comply with the Rules of Professional Conduct by providing competent, diligent, and informed legal advice. According to the Strickland v. Washington decision, the lawyer's performance must meet an objective standard of reasonableness. This involves being thoroughly familiar with the legal implications of power of attorney, including any potential health and immigration consequences as highlighted in Padilla v. Kentucky. Counsel must not have conflicts of interest as seen in Glasser v. United States, meaning they should not represent multiple clients in the same matter if their interests are adverse.
If discussing immigration-related issues, such as risk of deportation for non-citizens, the lawyer must provide clear and unambiguous advice reflecting the current law. Moreover, the lawyer should ensure that clients are aware of their rights, including their right to an attorney and their ability to make proactive quality-of-life decisions, such as executing living wills or medical power of attorney documents, as people increasingly manage these concerns in advance.