Legal ethics may be one of the only subjects in law school that every lawyer will encounter in practice. This course invites students to deeply engage, both conceptually and practically, not only with foundational principles of legal ethics, but also with lawyers’ duties and responsibilities to clients, to the profession, and to the wider community. Drawing on real life examples in cases, podcasts, and current events, we will explore and evaluate the tools lawyers may (or may not) have in approaching complicated legal ethical problems that present themselves, often unexpectedly, in a lawyer’s professional life. We will consider the legal profession in light of current internal and external pressures, and assess practical dilemmas in selected practice areas. We will also explore the influences of the adversary system on the pursuit of justice. (Please note that cameras are required to be on during class time in this remotely delivered course.)
Method of Evaluation: Participation and engagement (10%); case comment with short in-class presentation (20%), final exam (70%).