LAW456

Professionalism and Ethics

(McMann)

Prerequisite courses: 

Prerequisite for:

Instructor(s): Sean S. McMann

Course credit: 3

Method of presentation: Lecture/seminar

Teamwork: No

Learning Management System:

METHOD OF EVALUATION

1. Written Work

a) Students will be required to prepare a research memorandum on a topic to be chosen at the student’s discretion, with a written proposal to be approved by the instructor;

b) The research memorandum shall be no more that 15 pages in length;

c) 50% of the final grade will be based upon the research memorandum.

2. Class presentation

a) Students will present individually on an issue relating to legal ethics on a topic to be chosen at the student’s discretion, with prior approval by the instructor;

b) Presentations should be approximately 20 minutes in length and culminate in a student-led discussion with the full class;

c) Student-led discussion will last about 10 minutes following the presentation;

d) 30% of the final grade will be based upon the class presentation.

3. Participation

a) As the purpose of this course is to discuss and debate various issues relating to ethical obligations of practitioners in the legal profession and their professional responsibilities, active participation in class is imperative. All students will be expected to have read the assigned reading material, and to be prepared to participate in class. Mere attendance will not be sufficient to satisfy this requirement;

b) 20% of the final grade will be based upon active participation in class.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The main objective of this course is to explore concepts of the ethical and professional responsibilities of lawyers as legal practitioners in the self-regulated legal profession. Lawyers are expected to act in a professionally responsible manner, which includes balancing duties and obligations to clients, the courts, the state, and other legal professionals. Lawyers are guided by their oath, professional code, norms of practice, tradition, and personal ethical standards.

Students will be expected to critically examine matters including but not limited to current and past ethical issues faced by legal practitioners, and to respond to these while also articulating their own ethical foundations for their responses. Topics will also cover conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and other aspects of professional responsibility to clients, other lawyers, and the public in general.

Guest speakers will also be incorporated into the classroom experience, as timing and scheduling allows, in an effort to demonstrate how concepts addressed in class are incorporated by practitioners into their various practice areas.

SPECIAL COMMENTS

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)

1. Alice Woolley et al, Lawyers’ Ethics and Professional Regulation, 4th ed (Toronto: LexisNexis, 2021);

2. Alberta Code of Professional Conduct, Law Society of Alberta (available online: https://www.lawsociety.ab.ca/regulation/act-code-and-rules/);

3. Legal Profession Act, RSA 2000, Ch. L-8 (available online: https://www.lawsociety.ab.ca/regulation/act-code-and-rules/);

4. Rules of the Law Society of Alberta (available online: https://www.lawsociety.ab.ca/regulation/act-code-and-rules/);

5. Selected cases and readings.