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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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Lawyers sometimes serve as arbitrators or mediators and assist individuals in resolving disputes.  In these situations the lawyer is a third party neutral and does not represent any of the parties involved.[1]   The key ethical concern in these situations is that a party involved in the process will not understand the lawyer’s role.  This is especially true of individuals who are not represented by their own lawyer.  For example, in a mediation as the mediator goes from one side to the other attempting to resolve the dispute, the unrepresented person may believe that the mediator is giving her advice or looking out for her interests – which is not true.

The lawyer acting as third party neutral must “inform unrepresented parties that the lawyer is not representing them.”  When the lawyer sees that a party to the ADR process does not understand the role of the lawyer, the lawyer must explain the difference between acting as an lawyer-advocate and acting as a lawyer-third party neutral.[2]


[1] ABA Rule 2.4(a).

[2] ABA Rule 2.4(b).