Legal Pro

INTRO

Sources of regulations affecting lawyers

Canons (1908)

very general - not much guidance

very broad, the local bar associations would cite to the canons

didn’t have a lot of substance, more like general outlines of how to behave

Model Code (1970)

The Code is divided into nine Canons, numerous Ethical Considerations (ECs), which are said to be “aspirational,” and many Disciplinary Rules (DRs)

DRs were bright line rules and enforced

ECs were suggestions but not enforced

Model Rules (1983)

Focus on professional conduct (rather than professional responsibility)

No more DR/EC breakdown

Model Rules (2003 version) – AKA “Ethics 2000"

current version of model rules

what MPRE mainly focuses on

Ethics 20/20

still in progress, so Ethics 2000 is current version

Bar discipline process, common grounds, and—especially—compare the grounds to deny your admission to the bar

Geographic restrictions, practice across state lines, and federal bar admission

History of Legal Education in the US