LEGAL 214 - Legal Ethics

3.0 Credits
An overview of the ethical issues facing legal professionals in Washington State. Topics includethe regulation of attorney and paralegal conduct, client confidentiality, the unauthorized practice of law, conflicts of interest, the handling of client funds, advertising, billing, fee splitting, disciplinary procedures, and legal malpractice.
Course-level Learning Objectives (CLOs)
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Identify and apply the ethical standards and rules of professional conduct that govern paralegals and attorneys in Washington State.
Summarize what constitutes the practice of law, and identify methods to avoid engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.
Apply the ethical rules required to protect client confidentiality, attorney-client privilege, and attorney work product.
Analyze the methods for resolving potential conflicts of interest faced by paralegals and attorneys, including concurrent and successive representation, business transactions with clients, gifts from clients, imputed conflicts, and disqualification.
Distinguish between advertising and solicitation, and describe the limitations on attorney advertising and the solicitation of new clients.
Explain the various types of client fee arrangements, what constitutes a reasonable fee, the rules regarding fee splitting and referral fees, and how client property and client trust accounts must be handled.
Discuss what constitutes legal competence and the disciplinary actions that exist for incompetence.
Describe the current and trending ethical issues affecting paralegals, attorneys, and other legal professionals.

Course Typically Offered
Fall