Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility

Model Rules of Professional Conduct in practice. Covers conflicts of interest, confidentiality, competence in the age of technology, fee arrangements, candor to the tribunal, advertising, and disciplinary process with real case studies.

8 Units

Early Units (Foundation)

Building Skills

Advanced Concepts

Capstone/Synthesis

Model Rules of Professional Conduct: The Foundation of Legal Ethics

Examines the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct framework, focusing on the five core duties that govern attorney conduct and form the basis for disciplinary enforcement.

20 minutes

Conflicts of Interest: Current, Former, and Prospective Clients

Analyzes the framework for identifying, disclosing, and managing conflicts of interest involving current clients, former clients, prospective clients, and imputed conflicts in law firms.

20 minutes

Confidentiality and Attorney-Client Privilege: Scope and Exceptions

Examines the scope of attorney-client confidentiality, the narrower evidentiary privilege, permissive and mandatory disclosure exceptions, and protocols for inadvertent disclosure and metadata.

20 minutes

Competence in the Age of Technology: Tech Tools, Cybersecurity, and E-Discovery

Examines the duty of technology competence, including obligations to understand relevant technology, implement cybersecurity safeguards, and competently handle e-discovery in litigation.

20 minutes

Fee Arrangements and Billing Ethics: Reasonableness, Trust Accounts, and Fee Disputes

Analyzes the ethical requirements for fee agreements, including reasonableness, contingency fee restrictions, fee splitting, and the fiduciary obligations governing client trust accounts.

20 minutes

Candor to the Tribunal and Litigation Conduct: Duties to the Court

Examines the attorney's duties to the tribunal, including candor obligations, prohibitions on frivolous claims, discovery ethics, and restrictions on ex parte and improper communications.

20 minutes

Advertising and Solicitation Rules: Balancing Marketing and Professional Standards

Examines the ethical rules governing attorney advertising and solicitation, including prohibitions on false or misleading statements, restrictions on direct solicitation, and social media marketing ethics.

20 minutes

The Disciplinary Process: Grievances, Investigations, and Sanctions

Examines the attorney disciplinary system, including grievance procedures, investigation and prosecution, common violations, sanction types, and case studies of suspensions and disbarments.

20 minutes

Learning Progression

This course is designed to be taken sequentially. Earlier units establish foundational concepts that later units build upon. While you can explore units in any order, following the numbered sequence provides the most coherent learning experience.