Overview
This course examines the ethical, regulatory, and professional responsibilities governing lawyers and legal institutions. It introduces the purposes and structures of professional regulation, admission and licensing, competence, diligence, communication, fees, confidentiality, legal professional privilege, conflicts of interest, and duties owed to current, former, and prospective clients.
Students analyze responsibilities owed to organizational clients, courts, tribunals, opposing parties, witnesses, and third parties, including duties of candor, fairness, evidentiary integrity, and appropriate advocacy. The course also addresses prosecutors and government lawyers, supervision and delegation, unauthorized practice, professional independence, client funds, advertising, solicitation, access to justice, technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cultural competence, discrimination, harassment, discipline, sanctions, malpractice, risk management, whistleblowing, and reporting duties.
Using realistic case studies, ethics opinions, simulated client consultations, and disciplinary scenarios, students distinguish legal, moral, and strategic considerations; evaluate competing duties; and develop defensible professional decisions under uncertainty. Emphasis is placed on public trust, professional accountability, and the administration of justice.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify ethical, regulatory, and professional responsibility issues arising in legal practice and institutional settings.
- Interpret and apply professional conduct rules, legislation, ethics opinions, and disciplinary principles to complex factual scenarios.
- Distinguish legal obligations from moral considerations, strategic judgments, and professional risk-management concerns.
- Analyze conflicts of interest and advise on duties owed to current, former, prospective, and organizational clients.
- Evaluate confidentiality, legal professional privilege, candor, fairness, evidence, and advocacy obligations in contested circumstances.
- Synthesize competing duties owed to clients, courts, tribunals, opposing parties, witnesses, regulators, and the public.
- Formulate defensible responses to uncertainty involving technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, supervision, delegation, and professional independence.
- Assess disciplinary exposure, malpractice risks, sanctions, and reporting obligations in professional conduct scenarios.
- Demonstrate culturally competent, non-discriminatory, and respectful professional decision-making.
- Explain the relationship between professional responsibility, public trust, and the administration of justice.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
| Seminar | 2 hours | Fortnightly | Second term |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Ethics issue-spotting and rule-application assignments (2 × 10%) | 20.00% |
| Assignment | Case study analysis | 20.00% |
| Deliverable | Simulated client consultation | 15.00% |
| Assignment | Disciplinary scenario written analysis | 20.00% |
| Exam | Final examination | 25.00% |
Prerequisites
- Requirement 12 NCEA Level 2 English credits, externally assessed
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.
