This course satisfies the J.D. Professional Responsibility requirement.
Not open to students who have taken another two- or three-credit Professional Responsibility course.
This seminar focuses on the often subtle line between zealous advocacy and misconduct in the context of actual criminal and civil litigations. The seminar is organized around the life cycle of a litigation: from investigation through trial. The course focuses on the strategic role ethical issues play at different stages in complex litigation. Students will examine ethical issues faced by litigators in both civil and criminal cases because a sophisticated litigation practice requires knowledge of both civil and criminal issues and increasingly cases are being won, lost or settled as a result of ethical issues.
Course materials will include the Rules of Professional Responsibility, recent case law, opinions by bar associations, and primary source materials (indictments, transcripts, reports, etc.).