LAW456
Professionalism and Ethics
(Kash)
Prerequisite courses:
Prerequisite for:
Instructor(s): Brian J. Kash
Course credit:
Method of presentation: Lecture / Interactive / Experiential learning
Teamwork: Yes: Students will work in Lawyer groups of 3 to 4 and will work with that same group through out the semester.
Learning Management System:
METHOD OF EVALUATION:
1. The primary method of evaluation will be a final paper worth 60% of your final grade.
2. In addition, students will be graded on student presentations. (15%)
3. General participation (15%) based on attendance, discussion and leadership.
4. There will also be an email exercise that you will get details on in class. This exercise will require you to work out a legal issue via an email exchange. (10%)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The main objective of this course is to explore and discuss the ethical obligations and responsibilities of lawyers. Students will be expected and encouraged to think critically about current and past ethical issues faced by members of the legal profession, and will be expected to reflect on how their own personal values will shape their legal practice moving forward. In addition, we will cover various responses to ethical issues, as expressed by the courts, the profession (as reflected in the Alberta Code of Professional Conduct), the public, and legal commentators.
There may be guest lecturers from the legal community throughout the semester, and students will be expected to play an active role in engaging these speakers in discussion.
In order to excel in this course, students must learn the relevant legal principles which regulate the practice of law, especially the Code of Conduct published by the Law Society of Alberta.
This class is taught from a practical / skill development perspective. This is a participation class that will challenge you to act as a Lawyers who are part of 2 different law firms throughout the semester representing a cast of Clients, who seem to find themselves in all sorts of legal troubles. Students will have to deal with actual Ethical / Code of Conduct issues, while navigating representing their clients.
SPECIAL COMMENTS:
Class participation is required and expected in this class.
Description updated 2026-27. Please contact the instructor for any specific questions you may have related to this particular course section.
REQUIRED TEXTS (IF ANY):
The textbook for the course is Alice Woolley et al., Lawyers Ethics and Professional Regulation (Toronto, Lexis,) 3rd Edition. The book is available in the HUB bookstore for purchase.