LAWS 2015 Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics

Credit Points 10

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Description This subject examines the nature of the legal profession and its role in society. It deals with the professional, legal and ethical responsibilities legal practitioners owe to the law, the courts, their clients and to fellow practitioners, as well as the state and society at large. Students will be able to explain and evaluate the law and practice of legal practitioners, by reference to key topics, such as: professionalism; legal ethics; the history, structure and regulation of the legal profession; and the interpersonal, psychological and cultural factors affecting lawyers. Guided by an ethical decision-making model, students will demonstrate their ability to use primary legal materials to answer legal ethical problems.

School Law

Discipline Legal Practice

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

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Level Undergraduate Level 2 subject

Co-requisite(s) LAWS 1006 Introduction to Law OR
LAWS 1003 Fundamentals of Australian Law

Equivalent Subjects LAWS 3059 Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this subject, students will be able to:

Explain the professional obligations of legal practitioners in an historical, ethical and regulatory context with reference to the duties of legal practitioners
Communicate in a professional manner and context
Consider the link between legal, psychological and cultural factors that underpin professional ethical decision making
Advise on legal problems, utilising primary legal materials
Explain the necessity for legal practitioners to effectively and ethically communicate across cultures, particularly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Subject Content

The Legal Profession: Issues, Ethics and Lawyering.
Professional Communication (including cultural understanding).
Duty to the Law, Courts and Fellow Practitioners.
Duty to Clients (including basic principles of trust accounting).
Admission, Professional Misconduct and Discipline.
Psychology and ethical decision making.

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.