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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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A prospective client is one who discusses a potential claim with a lawyer but no attorney-client is formed.  In these situations, the lawyer owes limited duties to the prospective clients.  The three basic obligations placed on a lawyer with regard to a prospective client are (1) to keep information received from the prospective client confidential, (2) to protect any property that the prospective client leaves with the lawyer, and (3) to the extent the lawyer provides any advice to the prospective client to do so in a non-negligent manner.[1]  The second situation where a prospective client can sue a lawyer is when there is not mutual attorney-client relationship formed but, based on the facts, the client reasonably believes that such a relationship exists and the potential client acts in reliance on the lawyer’s actions. In these situations, a court is willing to imply an attorney-client relationship.  It should be clear why lawyers oppose these types of claims.  The lawyer believes that no attorney-client relationship is formed, but the client does – and under the right set of facts the court imposes the relationship on the unwilling lawyer.


[1] Restatement (Third) The Law Governing Lawyers, §15(1)(a)-(c).