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Professional Responsibility and Ethics (LAW 747)

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  1. Course Overview & Materials
    Syllabus - LAW 747
    5 Topics
  2. Topics
    1. Introduction & Background
    10 Topics
  3. 2. Admission to the Practice of Law
    8 Topics
  4. 3. Introduction to the Standard and Process of Lawyer Discipline
    17 Topics
  5. 4. Malpractice
    21 Topics
  6. 5. Unauthorized Practice of Law
    16 Topics
  7. 6. Duty to Work for No Compensation (Pro Bono)
    13 Topics
  8. 7. Decision to Undertake, Decline, and Withdraw from Representation; The Prospective Client
    15 Topics
  9. 8. Division of Decisional Authority Between Lawyer and Client
    7 Topics
  10. 9. Competence, Diligence, and Communication
    8 Topics
  11. 10. Duty of Confidentiality: Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine
    18 Topics
  12. 11. Duty of Confidentiality: Rule 1.6 and its exceptions
    22 Topics
  13. 12. Advising Clients – Both Individual and Corporate
    12 Topics
  14. 13. Conflict of Interest: Concurrent Client Conflict
    19 Topics
  15. 14. Conflict of Interest: Conflicts Between A Client and the Lawyer’s Personal Interest
    9 Topics
  16. 15. Conflict of Interest: Former Clients
    13 Topics
  17. 16. Communication Between Lawyers and Represented/ Unrepresented Persons
    7 Topics
  18. 17. Billing for Legal Services: Fees, Handling Client Property (Settlement Proceeds and Physical Evidence)
    19 Topics
  19. 18. The Decision to File/Prosecute a Claim; Litigation & Negotiation Tactics
    14 Topics
  20. 19. Lawyer’s Duties to the Tribunal
    10 Topics
  21. 20. Duties of a Prosecutor; Limits on Trial Publicity
    12 Topics
  22. 21. Solicitation & Marketing: Constitutional & Ethical Issues
    18 Topics
  23. 22. Law Firm Administration Issues
    8 Topics
  24. 23. Judicial Ethics
    35 Topics
  25. Course Wrap-Up
    What Did We Learn?
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This is the final substantive element. Pretty simple: the attorney-client privilege applies to communications between privileged persons made in confidence for the purpose of obtaining legal advice. Assistance is legal in nature if “the lawyer’s professional skill and training would have value in the matter.”[1]  So, if someone who happens to be a lawyer is communicating with a client about investing in a new company with no interest in obtaining legal advice (only investment funds), then the communications regarding the investment are not protected by the attorney-client privilege.[2] Of course, it could be that the client is seeking both legal and non-legal advice. In such situations, the communication is privileged, so long as the client is seeking some advice that requires legal judgment – even if the client is also seeking other types of advice (business or as a friend).


[1] Restatement (Third) of the Law Governing Lawyers § 72, cmt. b.

[2] Restatement (Third) of the Law Governing Lawyers § 72, cmt. c, ex. 1.