The legal profession, for all its complexity, is one of the least understood labour markets. Much of how lawyers practice on a daily basis — irrespective of their area of specialization — is unobservable to clients, to regulators, even to one another. This opacity makes ethical issues challenging, but also limits our understanding of the profession more broadly.

Over the semester we will spend time exploring select ethical rules (e.g., conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and privilege) and also how the legal profession works, examining different types of practice (e.g., large law firms; public interest; government), the training of lawyers (e.g., law school, clerkships), and their regulation (e.g., disciplinary committees, procedural rules). In many instances, the ethical challenges play out differently across different practice settings and areas of law. Throughout the term guest speakers will provide their unique perspectives.