LAW456
Professionalism and Ethics
(Paton)
Prerequisite courses:
Prerequisite for:
Instructor(s): Professor Paul Paton
Course credit: 3
Method of presentation: Seminar
METHOD OF EVALUATION
1. Attendance and Participation -- 15%
2. Midterm Take Home Reflection Papers (based on course materials and discussions) -- 2 x 20%
3. Research Paper -- 45%
a. Proposal -- 5%
b. Workshop Presentation -- 15%
b. Research Paper -- (1500-2000 words) --25%
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is a study of the ethical issues confronting an individual lawyer in practice as well as an examination of questions confronting the legal profession as a whole. Focusing primarily on the legislation, rules and regulations governing the legal profession in Alberta, we will examine complex professional responsibility problems in some of the most important areas of concern for practicing lawyers, including privilege and confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and client relations. We will also consider the history, governance and transformation of the legal profession, assessing recent developments including multidisciplinary practice, alternative business structures, paralegal regulation, non-lawyer legal service delivery, innovation and technology, the challenges facing in-house counsel, and globalization of law firms. We will also consider mental health and wellness, equity and diversity, and duties to the public. Additional subjects will depend upon student research project topic choices.
The lectures, discussions, guest visits (TBA) and materials will aim to give a theoretical and practical foundation for you to think about what it means for you to practice ethically, and to prompt reflection about what it means to be a lawyer.
SPECIAL COMMENTS
Description updated 2021-22. Please contact the instructor for any specific questions you may have related to this particular course section.
REQUIRED TEXTS (IF ANY)
1. Alberta Code of Professional Conduct, Law Society of Alberta; Legal Profession Act; and Rules of the Law Society of Alberta: online: https://www.lawsociety.ab.ca/regulation/act-code-and-rules/
2. Selected cases and readings