Course Schedule

This course will introduce students to core concepts and doctrines in the field of professional responsibility. It will touch on all of the subjects needed to prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. The class will be taught through case examples and problems. Students will take an in-class examination. This course fulfills the Professional Responsibility requirement for graduation. 

This course will introduce students to core concepts and doctrines in the field of professional responsibility. It will touch on all of the subjects needed to prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. The class will be taught through case examples and problems. Students will take an in-class examination. This course fulfills the Professional Responsibility requirement for graduation. 

This survey course on lawyers' professional responsibilities is centered on two premises: (1) The practice of law is a business as well as a profession, and economic incentives therefore matter; and (2) more than 90 percent of all lawsuits settle. Thus, we will give special attention to the economic aspects of the attorney-client relationship and the various incentives that existing ethical Rules provide both lawyers and clients. We will also pay particular attention to a wide range of ethical issues surrounding the settlement process.

The course will cover approximately 85% of the material that is typically tested on the MPRE.  In previous years, students all reported feeling well prepared for, and doing well on, the MPRE.  The "short course" format, with our final class meeting scheduled for October 14, means that the course will be completed prior to the early November MPRE testing date.

This course fulfills the Professional Responsibility requirement for graduation.

The exam format will be an in-class, 3-hour, exam consisting of 2-hours of objective questions (multiple choice and true-false) and a one-hour, word-limited essay question.  The exam will be closed note, closed internet, but open "rules book."

This survey course on lawyers' professional responsibilities is centered on two premises: (1) The practice of law is a business as well as a profession, and economic incentives therefore matter; and (2) more than 90 percent of all lawsuits settle. Thus, we will give special attention to the economic aspects of the attorney-client relationship and the various incentives that existing ethical Rules provide both lawyers and clients. We will also pay particular attention to a wide range of ethical issues surrounding the settlement process.

The course will cover most of the material that is typically tested on the MPRE.  In previous years, students all reported feeling well prepared for, and doing well on, the MPRE.

This course fulfills the Professional Responsibility requirement for graduation.

The exam format will depend on what is ultimately permitted by the university.  If current regulations continue, the exam will be a time-limited (likely 3 hours) exam with a mix of word-limited long essay questions and word-limited short answer questions.

This course will introduce students to core concepts and doctrines in the field of professional responsibility. It will touch on all of the subjects needed to prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. The class will be taught through case examples and problems. Students will take an in-class examination. This course fulfills the Professional Responsibility requirement for graduation. 

This course approaches the subject of professional responsibility as a study of how society regulates the legal profession and the conduct of lawyers. First, we study the organized regulation of the profession, which includes the following topics: (1) the admission of lawyers, (2) the establishment of the legal services monopoly through unauthorized practice of law statutes, (3) the state and federal systems for disciplining lawyers, and (4) the clients. Second, we study the regulation of the conduct of individual lawyers through the transactional perspectives: (1) formation of the attorney- client relationship, (2) performance of the representation, and (3) termination of the relationship. We also spend significant time examining the three contexts of regulating lawyers' conduct: (1) the disciplinary committee, (2) the private malpractice action, and (3) judicial regulation as part of the lawyer's representation of a client. Although we discuss the Model Code and the Model Rules, this course does not focus on the rules of professional responsibility as the sole source of ethical guidelines. The course should prepare you for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam; however, it is more useful as an introduction to identifying and resolving ethical problems in practice. In addition, it is your first introduction to the practice of law as a profession.

Student grades are assessed through an in class exam with objective questions and essay questions; a 5 page outside paper, and completing the multiple choice questions in the Casebook Plus online module.

This course will introduce students to core concepts and doctrines in the field of professional responsibility. It will touch on all of the subjects needed to prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. The class will be taught through case examples and problems. Students will take an in-class examination. This course fulfills the Professional Responsibility requirement for graduation. 

This course approaches the subject of professional responsibility as a study of how society regulates the legal profession and the conduct of lawyers. First, we study the organized regulation of the profession, which includes the following topics: (1) the admission of lawyers, (2) the establishment of the legal services monopoly through unauthorized practice of law statutes, (3) the state and federal systems for disciplining lawyers, and (4) the clients. Second, we study the regulation of the conduct of individual lawyers through the transactional perspectives: (1) formation of the attorney- client relationship, (2) performance of the representation, and (3) termination of the relationship. We also spend significant time examining the three contexts of regulating lawyers' conduct: (1) the disciplinary committee, (2) the private malpractice action, and (3) judicial regulation as part of the lawyer's representation of a client. Although we discuss the Model Code and the Model Rules, this course does not focus on the rules of professional responsibility as the sole source of ethical guidelines. The course should prepare you for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam; however, it is more useful as an introduction to identifying and resolving ethical problems in practice. In addition, it is your first introduction to the practice of law as a profession.

Student grades are assessed through an in class exam with objective questions and essay questions; a 5 page outside paper, and completing the multiple choice questions in the Casebook Plus online module.

Professional Responsibility is about the law that governs lawyers.  We will explore the relationship between lawyers and clients; the protection of client confidences;representing organizational clients; conflicts of interest; duties to courts; and duties to adversaries and third persons.  We will also discuss the provision of legal services and the evolving business of law. The course fulfills the professional responsibility requirement for graduation and helps you prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).  

This course approaches the subject of professional responsibility as a study of how society regulates the legal profession and the conduct of lawyers. First, we study the organized regulation of the profession, which includes the following topics: (1) the admission of lawyers, (2) the establishment of the legal services monopoly through unauthorized practice of law statutes, (3) the state and federal systems for disciplining lawyers, and (4) the clients. Second, we study the regulation of the conduct of individual lawyers through the transactional perspectives: (1) formation of the attorney- client relationship, (2) performance of the representation, and (3) termination of the relationship. We also spend significant time examining the three contexts of regulating lawyers' conduct: (1) the disciplinary committee, (2) the private malpractice action, and (3) judicial regulation as part of the lawyer's representation of a client. Although we discuss the Model Code and the Model Rules, this course does not focus on the rules of professional responsibility as the sole source of ethical guidelines. The course should prepare you for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam; however, it is more useful as an introduction to identifying and resolving ethical problems in practice. In addition, it is your first introduction to the practice of law as a profession.

Student grades are assessed through an in class exam with objective questions and essay questions; a 5 page outside paper, and completing the multiple choice questions in the Casebook Plus online module.

Professional Responsibility is about the law that governs lawyers.  We will explore the relationship between lawyers and clients; the protection of client confidences;representing organizational clients; conflicts of interest; duties to courts; and duties to adversaries and third persons.  We will also discuss the provision of legal services and the evolving business of law. The course fulfills the professional responsibility requirement for graduation and helps you prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).  

Professional Responsibility is about the law that governs lawyers.  We will explore the relationship between lawyers and clients; the protection of client confidences;representing organizational clients; conflicts of interest; duties to courts; and duties to adversaries and third persons.  We will also discuss the provision of legal services and the evolving business of law. The course fulfills the professional responsibility requirement for graduation and helps you prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).  

This course will introduce students to core concepts and doctrines in the field of professional responsibility. It will touch on all of the subjects needed to prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. The class will be taught through case examples and problems. Students will take an in-class examination consisting of multiple choice questions and short essay questions. This course fulfills the Professional Responsibility requirement for graduation. 

Professional Responsibility is about the law that governs lawyers.  We will explore the relationship between lawyers and clients; the protection of client confidences;representing organizational clients; conflicts of interest; duties to courts; and duties to adversaries and third persons.  We will also discuss the provision of legal services and the evolving business of law. The course fulfills the professional responsibility requirement for graduation and helps you prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).  

This course approaches the subject of professional responsibility as a study of how society regulates the legal profession and the conduct of lawyers. First, we study the organized regulation of the profession, which includes the following topics: (1) the admission of lawyers, (2) the establishment of the legal services monopoly through unauthorized practice of law statutes, (3) the state and federal systems for disciplining lawyers, and (4) the clients. Second, we study the regulation of the conduct of individual lawyers through the transactional perspectives: (1) formation of the attorney- client relationship, (2) performance of the representation, and (3) termination of the relationship. We also spend significant time examining the three contexts of regulating lawyers' conduct: (1) the disciplinary committee, (2) the private malpractice action, and (3) judicial regulation as part of the lawyer's representation of a client. Although we discuss the Model Code and the Model Rules, this course does not focus on the rules of professional responsibility as the sole source of ethical guidelines. The course should prepare you for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam; however, it is more useful as an introduction to identifying and resolving ethical problems in practice. In addition, it is your first introduction to the practice of law as a profession.

Student grades are assessed through an in class exam with objective questions and essay questions; a 5 page outside paper, and completing the multiple choice questions in the Casebook Plus online module.

Professional Responsibility is about the law that governs lawyers.  We will explore the relationship between lawyers and clients; the protection of client confidences;representing organizational clients; conflicts of interest; duties to courts; and duties to adversaries and third persons.  We will also discuss the provision of legal services and the evolving business of law. The course fulfills the professional responsibility requirement for graduation and helps you prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).  

Professional Responsibility is about the law that governs lawyers.  We will explore the relationship between lawyers and clients; the protection of client confidences;representing organizational clients; conflicts of interest; duties to courts; and duties to adversaries and third persons.  We will also discuss the provision of legal services and the evolving business of law. The course fulfills the professional responsibility requirement for graduation and helps you prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).  

This course will introduce students to core concepts and doctrines in the field of professional responsibility. It will touch on all of the subjects needed to prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. The class will be taught through case examples and problems. Students will take an in-class examination consisting of multiple choice questions and short essay questions. This course fulfills the Professional Responsibility requirement for graduation. 

Professional Responsibility is about the law that governs lawyers.  We will explore the relationship between lawyers and clients; the protection of client confidences;representing organizational clients; conflicts of interest; duties to courts; and duties to adversaries and third persons.  We will also discuss the provision of legal services and the evolving business of law. The course fulfills the professional responsibility requirement for graduation and helps you prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).  

This is a specialized class for students who expect to spend their careers (at least in part) representing clients in civil lawsuits. If that's not you, I encourage you to take a different class that will better prepare you for the practice you expect to have. If yo'ure not sure about your future field of endeavor, consider taking the introductory survey course. It's taught every year.

This is NOT an MPRE prep course. From my own experience and that of hundreds of law students, I know that one can pass the MPRE with a week or two of study. Consequently, there's no reason to spend an entire semester getting ready for the exam. But there are good reasons to spend a term studying the law governing lawyers, which you will have to understand and deal with throughout your professional life. Take my word on this: I get calls from lawyers with professional responsibility problems all the time. In this class, you will receive a thorough education in the basics that will both give you a leg up on the MPRE and prepare you to think about the ethical problems you'll encounter in practice.

Attendance is mandatory. Students who miss more than two class sessions will be asked to drop the course. Role will be taken each day.

This class treads the line between professional responsibility and civil procedure. It is designed for students who intend to become civil litigators. Students who expect to practice in other fields will be better served by a different professional responsibility course. The topics covered vary from year to year and have recently included lawyers' responsibilities in litigating and settling aggregate lawsuits, fee awards in class actions, principal/agent problems, the writings of Monroe Freedman on legal ethics, the requirements and ambit of the fiduciary duty, the professional responsibilities of lawyers supplied by insurers to defend lawsuits against policyholders, and the decision to drop a client as a result of pressure from interest groups. Some topics that are commonly covered in the survey course, such as conflicts of interest, will also be included. The reading load for this class can be fairly heavy. I also assign many of my own writings, along with works by my critics (I have many). Everyone is expected to come to class prepared to discuss the readings, i.e., to ask questions and make comments on them. Because students are required to make in-class presentations and submit short papers, space is limited and attendance is required. Anyone who misses more than 2 class sessions will be dropped from the course. Grades will be based on in-class presentations, short essay papers, and final exam or a seminar paper, depending on the number of students that enroll. A research paper is the default final assignment. This course satisfies the professional responsibility curriculum requirement for graduation from the Law School.

This course will introduce LL.M. students to core concepts and doctrines in the field of professional responsibility. It will highlight the subjects needed to prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. The class will be taught through case examples and problems. Students must be prepared to actively take part in class discussion each meeting. This course fulfills the Professional Responsibility requirement for graduation and for bar examinations. It class is for LL.M. students only.