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Professional Responsibility

Past Offerings

Professional Responsibility (8022): This course introduces students to the law governing the conduct of lawyer in the United States. The course is designed around the premise that the subject of professional responsibility is the single most relevant to students' future careers as members of the bar. These issues come up on a constant basis and it is critical that lawyers be alert to spotting them when they arise and be educated in the methods of resolving them. As such, the course will address many of the most commonly recurring issues that arise, such as confidentiality, conflicts of interest, candor to the courts; candor to others, the role of the attorney as counselor, the structure of the attorney-client relationship, issues around billing, the tension between "cause lawyering" and individual representation, and lawyers' duty to serve the underrepresented. International graduate students will bring their own experiences, and help compare these rules with standards applicable to legal behavior in different jurisdictions. The course will instill familiarity with many of the subjects tested on in the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination--which is required for licensure by virtually every U.S. jurisdiction. Students will work periodically in small groups to discuss hypothetical problems during class sessions. Most sessions will begin with a brief quiz on material covered during the previous session. Each student must also submit a brief reflection paper on five occasions during the course. There is no final examination. The instructor retains the right to take class participation and attendance into account in the final assessment. This course is taught on an accelerated basis with one or two introductory sessions during Orientation, and sessions on most days during the three weeks between Orientation and the beginning of the Autumn Quarter classes. Limited to LLMs, JSMs and exchange students. Required for LLMs.

Sections

Professional Responsibility | LAW 8022 Section 01 Class #1120

  • 3 Units
  • Grading: Law Mandatory P/R/F
  • 2024-2025 Autumn
    Schedule No Longer Available
  • Enrollment Limitations: Consent
  • Learning Outcomes Addressed:
    • LO1 - Substantive and Procedural Law
    • LO2 - Legal Analysis and Reasoning
    • LO6 - Law Governing Lawyers/Ethical Responsibilities
  • Course Category:
    • Legal Ethics & Legal Profession

Notes: Class meets 1:30PM to 3:50PM on Tuesday, Sept. 3, Wednesday, Sept. 4 , Thursday, Sept. 5, Monday, Sept. 9, Tuesday, Sept. 10, Wednesday, Sept. 11 , Thursday, Sept. 12, Monday, Sept. 16, Tuesday, Sept. 17, and Wednesday, Sept. 18. Limited to advanced degree students.

  • 2024-2025 Autumn
    Schedule No Longer Available

Professional Responsibility (8022): This course introduces students to the goals, rules and responsibilities of the American legal profession and its members. The course is designed around the premise that the subject of professional responsibility is the single most relevant to students' future careers as members of the bar. These issues come up on a constant basis and it is critical that lawyers be alert to spotting them when they arise and be educated in the methods of resolving them. As such, the course will address many of the most commonly recurring issues that arise, such as confidentiality, conflicts of interest, candor to the courts and others, the role of the attorney as counselor, the structure of the attorney-client relationship, issues around billing, the tension between "cause lawyering" and individual representation, and lawyers' duty to serve the underrepresented. The course will consider the overlapping, inconsistent, and incomplete sources of the regulation of lawyers in the United States. International graduate students will bring their own experiences to compare with standards applicable to legal behavior in different jurisdictions. The course will also instill familiarity with much of the coverage and testing methods of the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination that is required by virtually every U.S. state and territory for licensure. Individual and group participation in class discussion is vital, as well as good faith completion of review questions and/or brief quizzes on the daily reading assignments. Students will work regularly in small groups to discuss hypothetical problems during each class. Each student must also submit a brief reflection paper on five occasions during the course.. The instructor retains the right to take class participation and attendance into account in the final assessment. This course is taught on an accelerated basis with an introductory class at Orientation and classes on most days during the three weeks between Orientation and the beginning of the Autumn Quarter classes. Limited to LLMs, JSMs and exchange students. Required for LLMs.

Sections

Professional Responsibility | LAW 8022 Section 01 Class #28605

  • 3 Units
  • Grading: Law Mandatory P/R/F
  • 2023-2024 Autumn
    Schedule No Longer Available
  • Enrollment Limitations: Consent
  • Learning Outcomes Addressed:
    • LO1 - Substantive and Procedural Law
    • LO2 - Legal Analysis and Reasoning
    • LO6 - Law Governing Lawyers/Ethical Responsibilities
  • Course Category:
    • Legal Ethics & Legal Profession

Notes: On Wednesday, Sept. 13, class meets 9:30AM-12:30PM (instead of 1:30PM-4:30PM). Limited to advanced degree students.

  • 2023-2024 Autumn
    Schedule No Longer Available

Professional Responsibility (8022): This course introduces students to the goals, rules and responsibilities of the American legal profession and its members. The course is designed around the premise that the subject of professional responsibility is the single most relevant to students' future careers as members of the bar. These issues come up on a constant basis and it is critical that lawyers be alert to spotting them when they arise and be educated in the methods of resolving them. As such, the course will address many of the most commonly recurring issues that arise, such as confidentiality, conflicts of interest, candor to the courts and others, the role of the attorney as counselor, the structure of the attorney-client relationship, issues around billing, the tension between "cause lawyering" and individual representation, and lawyers' duty to serve the underrepresented. The course will consider the overlapping, inconsistent, and incomplete sources of the regulation of lawyers in the United States. International graduate students will bring their own experiences to compare with standards applicable to legal behavior in different jurisdictions. The course will also instill familiarity with the coverage and testing methods of the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination that is required by virtually every U.S. state and territory for licensure. Individual and group participation in class discussion is vital, as well as good faith completion of review questions and/or brief quizzes on the daily reading assignments. Students will work regularly in small groups to discuss hypothetical problems during each class, as well as complete a group assignment due at the close of the course. Each student must also submit a brief reflection paper. The instructor retains the right to take class participation and attendance into account in the final assessment. This course is offered to international graduate students only. It is taught on an accelerated basis with an introductory class at Orientation and daily classes during the three weeks between orientation and the beginning of the Autumn Quarter classes. Limited to LLMs, JSMs and exchange students. Required for LLMs.

Sections

Professional Responsibility | LAW 8022 Section 01 Class #30304

  • 3 Units
  • Grading: Law Mandatory P/R/F
  • 2022-2023 Autumn
    Schedule No Longer Available
  • Enrollment Limitations: Consent
  • Learning Outcomes Addressed:
    • LO1 - Substantive and Procedural Law
    • LO2 - Legal Analysis and Reasoning
    • LO6 - Law Governing Lawyers/Ethical Responsibilities
  • Course Category:
    • Legal Ethics & Legal Profession

Notes: Meeting dates and time to be announced by instructor. Limited to advanced degree students.

  • 2022-2023 Autumn
    Schedule No Longer Available
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