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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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Even if a lawyer is permitted to terminate the representation, the lawyer is not free just to walk away from the client.  The lawyer must make sure that the client’s interests are protected.  Specifically, the lawyer must give reasonable notice to the client that the lawyer is seeking to withdraw so that the client can obtain other counsel.  The lawyer must also give back papers and property “to which the client is entitled” (discussed in the TCV VI case below), and must also return any advances made by the client that have not been earned.[1]  However, a lawyer may retain a client’s papers “to the extent permitted by other law.”  This may sound strange – one part of the rule says that a lawyer must return papers that belong to the client and the next sentence says that the lawyer can keep papers if permitted.  This concept will be discussed more in the fees chapter, but most states give a lawyer a lien on client papers that are held by the lawyer (and relating to the representation), that the lawyer has a right to hold until the client pays the lawyer’s fee.


[1] ABA Model Rule 1.16(d).