Legal ethics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Legal ethics refers to an ethical code governing those in the practice of law. In many places, lawyers are bound by an ethical code that is enforced either by a high court (such as State supreme courts in some American states) or by self-governing bar associations, which have the authority to discipline (up to and including disbarment) members who engage in unethical professional behavior. American law schools are required to offer a course in professional responsibility, which encompasses both legal ethics and matters of professionalism that do not present ethical concerns.

While legal codes of ethics differ from place to place, they tend to have some common statutes governing things like conflicts of interest, incompetence, bribery, coercion, communications with jurors, coaching witnesses, and so on.

Every U.S. state has a regulatory body (usually called a state bar association) that polices lawyer conduct. When lawyers are licensed to practice in a state, they subject themselves to this authority, which in turn is generally overseen by the state courts. The state bar associations adopt a set of rule that specify the enforceable ethical duties that a lawyer owes to clients, the courts, and the profession. As of 2007, 47 states have adopted a version of the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct. One state, New York, has a version of the ABA's older ethical model, the Model Code of Professional Responsibility. California and Maine are the only states that have not adopted either-- instead these states have composed their own rules.[1]