Details for LAW303 Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility

Legal skill without integrity is not enough. Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility examines the ethical obligations of lawyers under the rules of conduct: confidentiality, conflicts, competence, candour and duties in the adversary system. You’ll identify common dilemmas, draw on ethical theory and practise servant leadership and respectful collaboration. You’ll finish ready to manage ethical risk while upholding justice, the rule of law and service to the community.

Quick Stats

• Currently offered by Alphacrucis: Yes
• Course code: LAW303
• Credit points: 10

Subject Coordinator

Prerequisite

LAW105 Contract Law 2; LAW107 Criminal Law and Procedure; LAW205 Torts 

Unit Content

Outcomes

1. Explain the ethical obligations of a lawyer under professional rules of conduct.
2. Identify ethical problems that commonly occur in legal practice and reflect on the professional responsibilities of lawyers to act ethically, promote justice, uphold the rule of law, and serve the community.
3. Design research-based strategies to manage legal and ethical risks posed by ethical dilemmas.
4. Research how ethical theories such as virtue ethics or deontology apply to problems of legal ethics.
5. Develop strategies to communicate effectively in oral and written forms while adhering to the professional standards required.
6. Model self-discipline, ethical decision-making, servant leadership and respectful collaboration with others.

Subject Content

1. Introduction—the relationship between ethics and law
2. Legal ethics and professional practice
3. The structure and regulation of the legal profession in Australia
4. Admission to practice
5. Discipline
6. Representation of clients
7. Competence and care
8. Confidentiality and privilege
9. Conflicts of interest
10. The adversary system
11. Duties of diligence, integrity and candour
12. Subject Revision
13. Examination

This course may be offered in the following formats

Face to Face on site

Please check the timetable to see when this subject will next be offered at Alphacrucis University College.

Assessment Methods

1. Legal Ethics Debate (30%)
2. Research Essay  (20%)
3. Final Examination  (50%)

Prescribed Text

• Peter MacFarlane and Ysaiah Ross, Ethics, Professional Responsibility and Legal Practice (LexisNexis Butterworths, 2017) 
• Melbourne University Law Review Association, Australian Guide to Legal Citation (Melbourne University Law Review Association, 4th ed, 2018) 

Check with your instructor before purchasing any textbooks