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Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism
The Legal Profession Course
All law schools require students to take a
course on the professional responsibilities of lawyers. The Walter
F. George School of Law has taken the extraordinary and innovative
step of also requiring a course on professionalism. The Legal
Profession course is a required, three-credit, graded course in
the first year. Students learn about what "professionalism"
means for lawyers and why it matters. They see what pressures
the practice of law places on professionalism in different settings.
The students explore the many ways in which the legal profession
seeks, imperfectly, to create and perpetuate the conditions that
promote professionalism. This course also examines the extraordinary
challenges and opportunities that come with a life in the law,
and the students study ways in which professionalism contributes
to the satisfaction that lawyers find in their calling. In addition
to class readings, discussions, guest speakers, and an exam, the
students write two papers reflecting on their career goals. They
also visit in small groups with experienced lawyers to discuss
life in the legal profession, and they read a biography of a famous
lawyer or judge and discuss it in a small group setting. To see
a copy of this year's syllabus and related materials, click
here.
In April, 2005, Professor Longan received the
National Award for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching Professionalism
from the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Professionalism,
the National Conference of Chief Justices, and the Burge Endowment
for Law & Ethics. The award resulted from the creation of
the Legal Profession course.
The faculty is always interested in improving the course and in sharing Mercer's experience with others who are interested in professionalism education. Anyone
with questions, comments, or suggestions is encouraged
to contact Professor Patrick Longan at
longan_p@mercer.edu.
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