Professional Responsibility Issues in Public Interest Practice

This course satisfies the J.D. Professional Responsibility requirement.

Not open to students who have taken another two- or three-credit Professional Responsibility course. Evaluation: Open-book take-home final examination or, with permission of instructor, paper; class participation.

The course focuses broadly on the ethical questions and challenges that typically arise in public interest practice (e.g. civil legal services, law reform, criminal defense, prosecution and government, and pro bono). 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, cases, reflective essays, and small group discussions. The course is intended for students who are interested in exploring ethical issues in the public interest context, regardless of where they intend to work after graduation.

This course also satisfies the LL.M. Professional Responsibility requirement for the California bar.