Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professor Thomas Mason

J.D. Course 361 | 2 credit hours

This course examines, against the background of the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct, the professional and ethical obligations and duties of the lawyer in today's society. A quick overview of the organized bar and the restrictions on the profession against such practices as solicitation precedes an in-depth examination of the lawyer's relationship with and obligations to his/her client as well as the additional and frequently clashing obligations which the lawyer owes the court, adversaries, and other persons. The course also includes a summary treatment of disciplinary proceedings and a discussion of the lawyer's professional obligation with respect to broad social problems, such as the distribution of legal services and the representation of unpopular clients and causes. The focus of each professor may vary, e.g., ethics in government, the large private law firm, public interest law, or criminal law.

Students may receive credit for only one offering in the Professional Responsibility series and may not receive credit for both a course in this series and American Legal Profession or Professional Responsibility: Lawyers’ Ethics in an Adversary System or Legal Ethics in Corporate Practice or Professional Responsibility: Problems from Practice or Professional Responsibility for Tax Lawyers. Students MAY receive credit for this course and Professional Responsibility in Law Firm and Corporate Practice.