National Jurist - February 2009 - (Page 10)

NEWS Keeping ethics intact A new law center focuses on educating and reminding law students about ethical standards in law school and beyond Commandment Two: Stay away from one of the most common reasons for academic discipline — cheating. It’s one of 10 commandments for law students put together by Ursula Furi-Perry and Michael L. Coyne, associate dean and p professor at the Massachusetts School of Law. Both recently launched The Center for Law Student Ethics and Professionalism and its website. There is plenty of information about legal ethics for lawyers, but too few resources on ethics and professionalism specifically for law students, said Furi-Perry, attorney, author and adjunct professor at the law school in Andover. “Law school offers students the first chance to learn about ethics and professionalism and practice ethical and professional conduct,” Furi-Perry said. At www.lawstudentethics.com, law students and recent law graduates can find a comprehensive resource on issues dealing with ethics and professionalism as a law student and beyond. The Center provides tips for avoiding unethical conduct, presenting a professional image and overall success in law school. Both thought it was important for the Center for Law Student Ethics and Professionalism to establish clear guidelines — professional commandments — for law students and new lawyers to follow to reach a high level of professionalism and professional comportment. Still, many students are unaware of or do not fully understand the kinds of conduct that can get them in hot water. Plagiarism, neglect of financial obligations, interactions and substance abuse are just a few. “We want to make sure that everyone is clear about the type of behavior that students shouldn’t engage in,” Coyne said. Both hope to convey the general understanding of ethics with factual information from similar cases in order to educate students more specifically about the types of issues and those that raise red flags. “It’s not just an abstract problem here,” Coyne said. “We hope to establish ethical norms so it carries over into the profession to show them that once in the profession those obligations don’t end.” With the interaction of having a website and a blog — lawstudentethics.blogspot.com —Furi-Perry and Coyne hope to detect trends in the profession and have others join to exchange ideas and have some debate about establishing norms regarding ethical behavior. —Michelle Weyenberg om andme al ts e Ten CEthicsmd Professionnism Th an t for Law Studen t be tempted to fib abou 1. Be honest! You may r rgraduate years, or othe your grades, your unde t. experiences—but don’ mmon reasons from one of the most co 2. Stay away cheating. for academic discipline: iarism. 3. Stay away from plag can and any behavior that Avoid criminal conduct 4. get you involved in it. rly. professional network ea 5. Start building your ships with your fellow ild long-lasting relation 6. Bu . students and professors sional image, even as a Aim to project a profes 7. law student. essional image online. 8. Aim to project a prof l d the misuse of alcoho oid substance abuse an 9. Av and drugs. s in school. 10. Don’t take shortcut 10 THE NATIONAL JURIST February 2009 http://www.lawstudentethics.com http://www.lawstudentethics.blogspot.com http://www.lawstudentethics.blogspot.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of National Jurist - February 2009

National Jurist - February 2009 Contents Entertainment: Get Organized! The Firm Report: The Part-Time Lawyer News: Keeping Ethics Intact, New Law Deans, Latest Survey Findings Seattle Law Students Secure Asylum for East African Women Laptops in the Classroom Attorneys Dissect Health Law Law Students Contribute to 2008 Election Process Remembering Professors Obama and Biden Bar Exam Diaries How Well Balanced are Law Students? How to Choose a Summer Program Career Hotline Linguistic Gymnastics Disturbing the Peace

National Jurist - February 2009

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