LAW456
Professionalism and Ethics
(Kash)
Prerequisite courses:
Prerequisite for:
Instructor(s): Brian Kash
Course credit: 3
Method of presentation: Lecture
METHOD OF EVALUATION
The primary method of evaluation will be a final essay worth 70% of your final grade. This essay will be 15-20 pages in length, double spaced, 12 point font with 1 inch margins (excluding the required bibliography). This paper shall be due on the final day of classes.
In addition, students will be graded on their class participation, based on student presentations/assignments (20%) and as general participants (10%) based on attendance and discussion leadership.
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 will be a 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.
Students will be required to actively participate in class discussions, break out groups and in class activities and presentations.
SPECIAL COMMENTS
Description updated 2015-16. Please contact the instructor for any specific questions you may have related to this particular course section.
REQUIRED TEXTS (IF ANY):
1. Alice Wooley, et al, Lawyers Ethics and Professional Regulation (Toronto: LexisNexis, 2008)- available in the HUB Mall Book Cellar
2. Alberta Code of Professional Conduct, Law Society of Alberta- current version available online
3. Selected cases and readings
*Required texts may be subject to change