Schedule of Classes
211.2 sec. 1 - Ethical Issues for the Trial Lawyer (Fall 2009)
Instructor: Bruce Budner
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Units: 2
Meeting Time: Tu 9:00-10:50
Meeting Location: D-21, Hearst Field Annex (HFA)
Course Control Number (Non-1Ls): 49519
Main Section Enrollment:
Enrolled: 29
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 31
As of: 11/25 06:43 AM
This seminar, which satisfies the PR requirement, is designed for those who anticipate careers as trial lawyers. It will apply both to civil and criminal practices, regardless of whether the clients are big corporations, injured individuals, criminal defendants, the government, or the traditionally underrepresented.
Active student participation will be the cornerstone of the course. A typical class will feature at least one presentation by multiple students, often in the form of role playing. Presentations will center on case studies that involve authentic ethical challenges facing trial lawyers. We will consider the range of ethical issues inherent in the case studies. We will explore the various options that the cases present to the lawyer and the impact a lawyer's conduct could have on the client, the justice system, the community, and the lawyer herself. Students with clinic or other similar experiences will have the opportunity to discuss relevant ethical dilemmas that they have faced or observed.
Though the rules of professional conduct will be our guide, we will explore those grey areas where a moral compass is as critical as an understanding of the black letter law. The ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct will be the principal, though not exclusive, reading. But this will be a course that emphasizes thinking over reading, expression of values over memorization of rules, real problems over theory.
Laptops will be closed in class. Grades will be based equally on class participation and a take-home final exam.
Bruce Budner, who will teach this course, has an extensive background as a trial lawyer, representing a wide variety of clients in a diverse array of cases. He has sued and defended lawyers and has served as an expert witness in professional liability cases.
This course satisfies the Professional Responsibility Requirement.
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Exam Notes: TH
Special Notes: LE(30)
Course Category: Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Course Subcategories:
Litigation and Procedure
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Books:
Required Books are in blue
- Richard Zitrin, Carol Langford, Nina Tarr - Legal Ethics in the Practice of Law (Loose Leaf Version) - Ed. Third Edition/2007 - Publisher: LexisNexis - ISBN: 9781422418345
- Center for Professional Responsibility - Annotated Model Rules of Professional Conduct - Ed. Sixth Edition/2007 - Publisher: American Bar Association - ISBN: 9781590318904
- Richard Zitrin, Carol Langford, Kevin Mohr - Legal Ethics: Rules, Satutes, and Comparisons - Ed. 2009 Ediion - Publisher: LexisNexis - ISBN: 9781422429792
