Ethics and the Legal Profession

Of interest to the introductory law or philosophy student, this text contains a selection of articles that explore confrontations in the daily practice of law, employing case studies. It includes questions on moral and professional responsibility, the ideology and tyranny of advocacy, and the professional's right to case refusal.

Beneficial for law or philosophy students, or practicing lawyers, Ethics and the Legal Profession includes articles by eminent philosophers and lawyers that explore moral problems in legal practice.The text is divided into six sections, each dealing with an important issue: The History and Organization of the Profession in the United States; The Moral Critique of Professionalism; The Adversary System; Conflict of Interest and Professional Judgment; Perjury and Confidentiality; and Making Legal Services Available.Combining in-depth case studies with careful analysis, the editors help students and professionals distinguish between moral and technical judgment, become clearer about the meaning of moral discourse in the workplace, and better appreciate the higher callings of their profession. Raising provocative questions about the rationale and limits of professional responsibility, this text provides insights into the ethics of the legal profession at a time when technology, globalization, and the changing economics of lawyering are reshaping the profession of law in ways still hard to predict.