Why do lawyers have to take a course in ethics?

Answer 1

To actually answer the question -- There are several reasons lawyers are required to take the course, the major ones being:

1. To learn how to conduct proper accounting, which for lawyers is quite complicated; what accounts a practicing lawyer must maintain, what kinds of funds are deposited in each account, and how and when the money is transferred between the accounts.

2. To learn how to bill properly (default is once every 30 days), what kind of information a bill should contain, and what kind of legal work is billable (which amounts to roughly 65% of a lawyer's time).

3. To learn one's jurisdiction's requirements with respect to written retainer agreements and their registration, as well as particular restrictions (e.g., the filing of retainer statements in personal injury actions, no contingency fees in divorces, etc.)

4. To learn about restrictions attendant to the attorney-client relationship besides the obvious one of confidentiality: conflicts of interest, taking a financial interest in the subject matter of the representation, serving as a lawyer and a witness simultaneously, the limits of confidentiality (cannot be maintained in furtherance of a crime), etc.

5. To learn exceptions to the confidentiality rule, i.e. when client confidences MUST be disclosed to the authorities, or when no confidentiality exists (such as when a third party is present).

6. To learn local prerequisites to being allowed to practice: some jurisdictions, for example, require you to maintain a full-time office, otherwise they put you into "inactive" status.

7. To review a miscellany of tough dilemmas of legal ethics, of which non-lawyers (their exceptional morals notwithstanding) generally have no clue, such as: can you break the confidentiality of the attorney-client relationship if maintaining it is tantamount to a crime, but breaking it will severely prejudice the client? can you disclose highly prejudicial information to your adversary if it is necessary to preserve the adversary's health? can you withdraw from representation when the client is forcing you to take a legally untenable approach to his case? can you withdraw from representation if you discover that your client holds views that are absolutely abhorrent to you? can you withdraw from representation if your client doesn't pay? can you hold on to your client's file if he does not pay? etc.

Answer 2

To teach them how to screw the little guy without them knowing they got screwed.

Answer 3

Mine must have missed that one , because he screwed me good.

Answer 4

So they know how not to treat people.

Answer 5

they all failed the course