LAW456
Professionalism and Ethics
(Pearl)
Prerequisite courses:
Prerequisite for:
Instructor(s): Professor Tamara (Baldhead) Pearl
Course credit: 3
Method of presentation: Lecture
Teamwork:
METHOD OF EVALUATION
In Class Participation and Professionalism – 10%
Topic Summary – 5%
Individual Reflection Presentations or Group Skit Projects – 15%
Final Paper – 70%
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course navigates the obligations, ethics and rules that governs lawyers. We will explore topics, including but not limited to, professional conduct, conflicts of interest that may arise in a variety of areas of practice, the role and ethical obligations of lawyers in our society, and the regulatory approaches by Law Societies, legislation and service to the public. Along with regulatory approaches, we will also explore a range of topics such as bias, racism, sexism and the rise of political instability. As lawyers we must do nothing that will further harm our clients, which requires us to engage critically with the course materials, which will assist you in strengthening your communication skills, both verbally and written. Such critical reflection will assist in developing your own understanding of what it means to be a “good lawyer”, especially when encountering beliefs and cultural differences that may differ from your own, as you develop your career as a contributing part of the legal profession.
SPECIAL COMMENTS
Description updated 2024-25. Please contact the instructor for any specific questions you may have related to this particular course section.
REQUIRED TEXTS (IF ANY)
Lawyers’ Ethics and Professional Regulation, (4th ed.) Eds. Woolley, Devlin, Cotter, Law (Lexis-
Nexus, 2012)
Law Society of Alberta’s Code of Conduct, available online: https://documents.lawsociety.ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/14211909/Code.pdf