Legal Ethics XY, XX, Sex, Gender

Virtually all states' Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in setting and enforcing legal-ethics standards, and many states also include rules specifically governing the subject of sexual activity between lawyers and clients. This program examines these topics, as well as the legal definition of gender and how gender dysphoria can or should affect it. Could there ever be a circumstance warranting differing treatment of lawyers based on sex that would not be reasonably deemed improper discrimination? Should sexual activity between lawyers and clients be regulated by a single nationwide standard, or left up to the discretion of each state? How might gender dysphoria and the legal definition of gender affect these rules and standards? This program will discuss all these questions and more in an interactive, seminar-type environment.

This program is open to attorneys of all levels and areas interested in learning more about and discussing the legal-ethics concerns of sex and gender.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the issues of sexual inequality in regards to lawyer-lawyer situations and lawyer-client situations
• Explore the different state-wide standards (or lack of standards) regarding sexual activity between lawyers and clients
• Discuss the absence of national standards for sexual activity between lawyers and clients, and whether such a standard would be beneficial
• Discuss the importance of the attorney-client relationship and how such laws might affect it
• Discuss the differences between “rule of law” standards and “rule of men” standards
• Discuss the legal definition of gender and the bearing that gender dysphoria has on it

Course Time Schedule:

Eastern Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Central Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Mountain Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Pacific Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Alaska Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Hawaii-Aleutian Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM