Professional Responsibility in Global Business

The course focuses broadly on the ethical questions and challenges that typically arise in practice. The course explores the extent to which ethical principles should/do vary by practice context. Students examine the core ethical principles that are embodied in the Rules of Professional Conduct and consider several alternative conceptions of attorney role. Classes are interactive, using problems, ethics opinions, and cases. The course will examine the core topics of 1) the regulatory structure of the legal profession; 2) formation and limitation of the attorney-client relationship; 3) competence, diligence, and communication; 4) confidentiality and attorney-client privilege; 5) conflict of interest; 6) the duty of honesty owed to tribunals and other participants in the legal system. In addition, the students will be asked to think about ethical issues in the context of three ethical decision points: (a) Career Choice (what legal career to pursue); (b) Case and Client Selection (whom to represent); and (c) Client Representation (how to represent clients ethically). The course is required for all students in the Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law program.