Costa Rica calls on lawyers to strengthen ethics and procedural rigor

Legal professionals in Costa Rica are urged to improve the quality of administrative lawsuits and charge transfers. Guidance stresses the need for a prior legal diagnosis, precise identification of the contested act, applicable law, desired outcome, correct procedural venue, and supporting evidence. Errors such as vague claims, filing before incompetent authorities, confusing facts with legal arguments, and inadequate documentation are highlighted as risks that can lead to inadmissibility, nullity, or weakened defence. The advice also warns against uncritical use of artificial‑intelligence tools in drafting legal documents.

A concurrent appeal emphasizes that lawyers serving in public office must continuously uphold ethical standards, constitutional fidelity, and the principles of a democratic, social state. The call stresses independence, prudence, institutional respect, and the duty to reinforce the rule of law, separating personal interests from public responsibilities. It underlines that professional ethics accompany lawyers throughout their careers, especially when they hold high‑level public positions.