Personal Ethics v. Legal Ethical Duties: The Duty of Zealous Representation

At the center of the legal profession is the responsibility for lawyers to offer their skilled representation to clients regardless of the nature of the client or case, and to remain dedicated throughout the case. This ethics course will discuss various unpopular cases and clients in order to communicate the historical importance and continued relevance of this duty. The material refers to several Model Rules related to the duty to represent and to standards of conduct that lawyers must demonstrate with clients. This course will also discuss the Equal Protection Clause in significant detail, covering both the historical context and its vital application in recent cases. Attendees will also be presented with case studies and questions related to the ethical responsibilities of lawyers.