What Should Law Students Understand About Lawyer’s Code of Ethics

For many students that get enrolled in a law degree, their focus is on the substantive material of the course. Seldom do they realize that this is a profession that requires not only skills and knowledge, but also a high level of professionalism. A practicing lawyer needs to be professional, considerate and competent in order to perform his or her role efficiently.

Regardless of which branch of law you pursue later on, in all situations you will be entrusted with the duty to pursue their legal problems and secure the best resolution possible. You also  need to be very aware of your opponent’s perspective and their rights as opposed to your client’s. It is a challenging task to maintain such a balance, and even more so when it is in an environment as difficult as a courtroom and the consequences of your decision could cost someone their life. These are some of the broadest ethical aspects you need to consider when it comes to professionally practicing law.

Confidentiality

When a lawyer enters an agreement with a client, a specific scope and level of confidentiality, whether explicit  or implicit, is agreed upon. This is the same kind of confidentiality that can be expected of a patient-doctor relationship, or any other professional relationship that is deeply rooted in trust and transparency. Take for instance a confidentiality agreement, the very essence of which being that the information that is generated or exchanged will be held in complete confidence.

It is implied that the service provider will only share this information upon authorization from their affected client, and that it will only be shared with individuals who are authorized to view this information. Remember that even then, this information can only be used for valid, professional purposes. It is expected that a lawyer or law firm will take all necessary measures to secure any confidential information from every possible threat and risk. 

Professional Judgment

Lawyers carry an immense amount of responsibility and authority on their shoulders; a single comment from a lawyer can completely change the course of their case since they are considered the sole legal representative and defender of any case or client they take on. For this reason, they are always under pressure from various stakeholders; there are numerous ways in which they can be enticed by other interested parties to somehow affect the case one way or another. 

It’s also important to note that there are different laws and ethics in every country, and this is where a professional comes in to give you better insight as a student since they have more experience under their belt. If you live in Australia, for instance, then it only makes sense for you to consult with a reliable and well known firm that specializes in the kind of law that relates to your case. In Australia lawyers gravitate towards firms that already have a prominent reputation, is of the opinion that maintaining a professional judgment free from any kind of influence is critical for this job. This implies avoiding any and all forms of bribery, not accepting cases from clients where there is a clear conflict of interest, and exercising professional judgment when speaking on behalf of your own client.

Competence

It is expected that a lawyer will only take on a client if they personally believe that they are competent enough to handle it, and that they have solid evidence and arguments they can aid their client’s case with. Moreover, they are expected to be generally skilled at all the different aspects of their job; having clear and efficient communication as well as honing comprehensive and reliable research methods are basic and necessary skills. The client usually doesn’t know what is required for their case, nor is it possible for them to properly evaluate the competence of their chosen lawyer; an honest lawyer needs to take a rational and honest stance when it comes to every case they agree to represent.

These are some key traits of professionalism that are integral for a lawyer’s success and reliability in their field. Being knowledgeable about the industry that you deal in will always be  important, but in order to provide the best service possible to your clients, these factors are just as indispensable.