LEGS 170 - Legal Ethics
PREREQUISITES/COREQUISITE: LEGS 101 - Introduction to Legal Studies
PROGRAM: Legal Studies & Paralegal Studies
CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3
LECTURE HOURS MIN: 3
TOTAL CONTACT HOURS MIN: 48
DATE OF LAST REVISION: Fall 2025
Legal Ethics introduces the essential ethical standards and professional responsibilities that govern attorneys and non-lawyer legal professionals. Students will examine the regulatory framework of the legal profession, focusing on requirements for licensing, attorney supervision, and differentiating authorized paralegal tasks from the unauthorized practice of law (UPL). The central themes include core ethical duties owed to clients, such as maintaining confidentiality, managing conflicts of interest, and ensuring fair fees and competent representation. This foundational knowledge prepares students to analyze and apply the Rules of Professional Conduct concerning integrity, diligence, advertising, and honesty within the judicial system.
MAJOR COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course the student will be expected to:
1. Explain the licensing and regulatory framework governing attorneys.
2. Compare the standards and requirements for paralegal certification and professional registration.
3. Apply the Rules of Professional Conduct concerning the supervision and responsibilities of non-lawyer assistants.
4. Differentiate between the authorized duties of a paralegal and the unauthorized practice of law (UPL).
5. Analyze the distinctions between the ethics rule of lawyer-client confidentiality and the evidentiary doctrines of attorney-client privilege and the work product rule.
6. Explain the primary types of conflicts of interest and the professional rules governing their resolution.
7. Contrast acceptable attorney advertising with prohibited solicitation under the Rules of Professional Conduct.
8. Explain the ethical rules governing client fees and the maintenance of client trust accounts.
9. Analyze the Rules of Professional Conduct pertaining to fairness, candor, and honesty in litigation and dealings with third parties.
10. Summarize the essential steps and requirements for pursuing a career as an attorney or paralegal.
COURSE CONTENT: Topical areas of study include -
- Regulation of the Legal Profession
- Unauthorized Practice of Law
- Confidentiality
- Conflicts of Interest - The Duty of Loyalty
- Advertising and Solicitation
- Fair Fees and Client Trust Accounts
- Competence and Negligence
- The Duty of Diligent Representation
- The Umbrella Duty of Integrity
Course Addendum - Syllabus (Click to expand)
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