Legal Profession and Its Responsibilities

[15] The Rules of Procedure presuppose a broader legal context that shapes the role of counsel. This context includes court rules and laws relating to admission matters, laws establishing specific duties of lawyers, and substantive and procedural law in general. Comments are sometimes used to alert lawyers to their responsibilities under such another law. First, we define our basic framework. It explains the three fundamental roles of lawyers as experienced technicians, wise advisors and effective leaders. It describes the sources and general definitions of lawyers` four responsibilities: obligations to clients and interest groups; obligations to the legal system; obligations to one`s own institution; and obligations to society as a whole. To effectively carry out these responsibilities, she argues that lawyers must possess not only “core competencies” but also “complementary” skills that include a holistic vision, knowledge and organizational skills that, while not unique to lawyers, are essential for whom advisory and leadership roles are essential. This part therefore describes how our framework goes beyond the limits of the formal ethical rules of the Bar Association and challenges lawyers as professionals and as citizens. [11] To the extent that lawyers fulfil the obligations of their professional profession, the possibility of state regulation is avoided. Self-regulation also helps to preserve the independence of the legal profession from state domination. An independent legal profession is an important force in maintaining government under the law, as abuse of legal power is more easily challenged by a profession whose members do not depend on the government to exercise the right to practice. Each of the lawyer`s many areas of responsibility contains its own category of ethical concerns. These areas can be organized such as the lawyer-client relationship, the lawyer as a consultant, the lawyer as a lawyer, transactions with persons other than clients, law firms and associations, public service, information on legal services and the integrity of the profession.

The rules of conduct that govern these areas are subject to interpretation, and knowledge of the specific behavior that violates a rule is often necessary to fully understand the meaning of the rule. This course will take a critical look at the law of professional conduct of lawyers. The course deals with the role of the lawyer in an adversarial system, professional ethics and personal morality, the division of decision-making between lawyer and client, zealous representation, trust between lawyer and client, conflicts of interest, preparation and examination of witnesses, perjury of the client, prosecution ethics, judicial conduct, client recruitment and torture ethics. Readings include rules and standards of professional conduct, case law, case law, and anecdotal material. The class discussion is based on these documents as well as film and television excerpts. This course is of particular interest to those interested in criminal law, public interest law and litigation in general. Finally, we briefly discuss ways in which key business law departments, law firms and law schools can work together to meet the needs of young lawyers, meet the needs of the legal system and society, bridge the gap between profession and faculty, and develop better information about lawyers and the legal profession at home and abroad. It sets out next steps, including seeking brief written commentary from leading thinkers to be published early next year, and holding a conference to discuss the issues raised in this essay and in the commentaries at Harvard Law School in the first semester of 2015. [16] Compliance with the rules, like any law in an open society, depends first and foremost on understanding and voluntary compliance, secondly on strengthening peer and public opinion, and finally, if necessary, enforcement through disciplinary procedures. However, the rules do not exhaust the moral and ethical considerations that should guide a lawyer, as no rewarding human activity can be fully defined by legal rules.

The rules only provide a framework for ethical legal practice. This course focuses on lawyers` relationships with clients, opposing parties, courts and the public. Professional liability issues are addressed in a variety of contexts, including the duties of the lawyer to the client, the alignment of the lawyer`s duties with multiple clients, and the alignment of the client`s obligations with the requirements of the judiciary and the public interest. While the course focuses on the ethical responsibility of lawyers, particular attention is paid to the important role lawyers play in advancing the interests of their clients and in self-regulating their profession. OVERVIEW: Street Law is a project-based internship where Georgetown law students teach practical law courses at public high schools in DC. Street law instructors help the local community better understand the law, identify how it affects them, and develop legal and analytical skills. Law students are assigned to a public high school class in D.C. or the D.C. prison to teach law and law-related concepts for the semester. Law students immerse themselves in the practical application of law and practice real-world legal skills (public speaking, legal research and writing, advocacy, etc.). The programme focuses on the purpose of laws and legal argumentation, legal negotiations, criminal justice and human rights.

The cornerstone of the course is a “mini” human rights trial in which high school students act as lawyers and witnesses and compete with other street law courses. This internship allows law students to gain invaluable legal skills while actively giving back to the local community. This course aims to provide a practical, practice-oriented (as opposed to academic, philosophical, or jurisprudential) approach to the ethical, moral, and social issues that lawyers address in the practice of their profession.