Ethics and the Legal Profession

A survey by the Association of American Law Schools found that the most popular approach to teaching professional responsibility is a required course, usually entitled 'professional responsibility' or 'legal ethics'. Beneficial to the introductory law or philosophy student, this book comprises a selection of articles by eminent philosophers and lawyers that explore confrontations in the daily practice of law, employing in-depth case studies. The text is divided into six sections, each dealing with an important issue: the Structure of the Profession; the Moral Critique of Professionalism; the Adversary System; Conflict of Interest; Client Confidences; and, the Provision of Legal Services. Provoking questions on moral and professional responsibility, the ideology and tyranny of advocacy, and the professional's right to case refusal are approached. The introduction to each section sets the stage for the paper to follow. Following each section is a summary and a list of suggested readings for further understanding.
Readings have been selected to give a historical perspective showing a revolution in philosophy, conceptual analysis, and moral reasoning - due to the growing consensus about the need for some measure of reform in the legal profession. This study of ethics can help students and professionals draw a sharper distinction between ethical and technical judgments, and help them to become clearer about the meaning of moral discourse in the workplace. "Ethics and the Legal Profession" would make excellent reading in a law or philosophy course in professional responsibility.