Professional Responsibility

The class will analyze the theory and practice related to issues of professional responsibility and ethics, with particular emphasis on an examination of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, the Restatement of the Law Governing Lawyers and additional select state ethics provisions. The class will study ABA and state ethics opinions, as well as caselaw and secondary sources pertinent to these issues. The professional responsibility issues often faced by beginning lawyers in various career paths (including law firm, government, and public interest practice) will be explored. Numerous guest lecturers will share their perspectives and insights into the topics covered in class.

Assignments and Grading:
The grade for the class will be based on class participation (25%), one midterm short essay (25%), and a final examination (50%). For each class, several students will be assigned to a panel that will be “on call” to help lead and advance the classroom discussion, beginning the second week of the course. It is anticipated that each student will work on 2-3 panels during the semester. All students are encouraged to participate in and contribute to all class discussions. Assessment of the quality and quantity of contributions to class discussion will comprise the final grade’s class participation component.

Textbook and Course Materials:
Thomas D. Morgan, Ronald D. Rotunda & John S. Dzienkowski, Professional Responsibility, Problems and Materials (12th ed. 2014).
Thomas D. Morgan & Ronald D. Rotunda, Selected Standards on Professional Responsibility (2016 ed. 2015).
Additional readings as assigned.