Lawyers are a fundamental component of society, considered to be at the centre of the administration of justice. Legislative and regulatory changes mean that lawyers can now deliver legal services in a diverse range of organisational structures – from law firms of varying shape and size to in-house practice in organisations including charities, NGOs, and government bodies. Whatever the shape of the organisation, lawyers should conduct themselves as professionals, upholding the ethical standards of the profession and the rule of law.  But does the organisational context that lawyers deliver services in influence how they discharge their professional duties? And what does it mean to be an ethical lawyer?

In this module we critically examine how lawyers practice in a range of organisational and institutional contexts. We will use interdisciplinary insights (law, sociology, organisation and management theory and psychology) to examine the psychological, social, and economic forces that influence lawyers’ ethical judgments in their daily practice. The module will address two key questions:

Firstly, how do lawyers function as professionals within the organisations that currently deliver legal services? Here, you will be introduced to the concept of professionalism, and how the type of organisation lawyers and others work in might or might not enable professionalism.

Secondly, what does it mean to be an ethical lawyer? Here, you will explore both theories of legal ethics and behavioural ethics and examine the key challenges that lawyers face as they strive to uphold their duties to clients, their duties to the administration of justice and society more broadly, whilst grappling with their own interests.

This module is ideal for students interested in the conduct of lawyers and the importance of ethics in practice. Students will encounter the professional and structural contexts in which lawyers practice, key theories, and concepts in legal and behavioural ethics, and how such theory and concepts have implications for lawyers in their daily work.

Recommended texts: There is no single textbook for this module. We will use a range of texts drawn from across a range of different disciplines. The module convenors are happy to advise on advanced reading.