ethics of lawyers

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING SYSTEM IV Sem LLB (3YR)

LECTURER : SARITHA KRISHNAKUMAREmail : saritha.krishnakumar@gmail.com

TOPICS

Introduction to Prof Ethics Legal Profession Code of Legal Ethics Bar Council Code of Ethics Prof Conduct & Advocacy Prof Misconduct Sanctions for Ethical Code Contempt Law and Practice

RECOMMENDED READINGS

Mr Krishnamurthy Iyer’s book on “Advocacy”

The Contempt Law and Practice

The Bar Council Code of Ethics

50 selected opinions of the Disciplinary Committees of Bar Council and 10 major judgment of the Supreme Court on subject

ASSESSMENTS

Assessment Weightage

Class participation 10%

Test 1 25%

Test 2 25%

Presentation 10%

Assignment 1 20%

Viva 5%

Attendance 5%

Total 100%

LECTURE 1Introduction to Professional Ethics

LECTURE 1

Introduction to Professional Ethics

WHAT IS ETHICS?

Ethics is defined as the science of morals.

It is defined as that which is good for the society and the individual.

The term ethics originates from the Greek word ethos meaning custom or habit

LAW & ETHICS

Ethics and law are like two sides of a coin. Ethics condemns all types of falsehood but

law does not condemn and punish all types of falsehood Eg : copying for an exam is ethically wrong but

not condemned by law unless caught Actions that are ethically right maybe legally

wrong and vie versa Eg: euthanasia

Lawyers are faced with legal and ethical issues daily

MORALITY & ETHICS

Ethics and morals relate to “right” and “wrong” conduct. While they are sometimes used interchangeably, they are different

Ethics refer to rules provided by an external source, e.g., codes of conduct in workplaces or principles in religions

Morals refer to an individual’s own principles regarding right and wrong. It is a personal compass of right and wrong

FEATURES OF ETHICS

Ethics involves learning what is right and wrong and then doing the right thing

Most ethical decisions have extended consequences

Most ethical decisions have mixed outcomes and multiple alternatives

Most ethical decisions have uncertain consequences

Most ethical decisions have personal implications as they are very subjective

LEGAL ETHICS

Legal ethics is a branch of ethics which lays down certain duties for observance of its members which he owes to the society, to Court, to the profession, to his opponent, to the client and to himself

AREAS OF APPLICATION OF ETHICS IN LAW

Conflict of interest Confidential Communication Advertising and Solicitation Fees criminal cases Globalization

THANK YOU