LS380 - Ethics
Legal Studies
George E. Guay III J.D. E-Mail - Vita
COURSE CONTENT
Ethics can present issues for society in general and for legal studies in particular. Societal
ethics would shape the discussion about what constitutes legal ethics. Where so much depends
upon the integrity of a legal professional, such professionals need to adhere to a code of
ethics. When an attorney represents the interest of a client, the employees of the attorney also
have to respect the obligations that the attorney incurs through such representation, such as
the need to keep a client's information confidential.
Taking sides: clashing views on controversial issues, Legal Issues. Katsh, M. Ethan and
William Rose, eds. Tenth Edition. Dushkin/McGraw-Hill. 2002 ISBN #: 0072480408
Paralegal Ethics. Angela Schneeman. West Legal Studies, Thomson Learning, 2000.
ISBN #: 0766809498
COURSE GOALS
In this class, students will engaged in self-directed study. They can also contact the instructor
via e-mail. By taking open-book multiple choice quizzes, writing on selected topics and writing
a 10-page research paper, students will develop an understanding of a topic or issue addressed
in a particular chapter.
Students should expect to spend at least three hours, and perhaps substantially more time and
energy, on each topic.
GRADING
Students will need to complete a twenty-question, multiple-choice and/or true-false, open-book
quiz for each chapter designated for study in this class. Students will also have to complete a
10- page research paper. For each issue in "Taking Sides", students will have to submit a minimum
of a three-page analysis on that issue. A student's final grade for the class will come from
student's grades on each of the specified activities.
The grade is broken down as follows:
Ethics quizzes (Schneeman text)
Analyses of Issue in "Taking Sides"
Research Paper
50%
25%
25%
100%
ASSIGNMENTS
Quizzes
Students need to take an open-book, twenty-question multiple-choice quiz on each chapter in the
Schneeman text. Students will need to use their student ID and passwords to the quizzes, which
are available at any time. There are ten quizzes.
These exercises constitute 50% of a student’s grade for the course.
Analyses of "Taking Sides" Issues
For each of the issues, designated below, students have to submit an analyses of at least three
typewritten, double-spaced, pages. For each proponent and opponent, a student has to write at
least one page setting out the argument described there. A student then has to write at least a
one-page analysis of these arguments, and state which argument the student finds the most
persuasive.
This exercise constitutes 25% of a student’s grade for the course.
Research Paper
Students have to write a ten-page paper (excluding title page and references) regarding the
licensing of paralegals. They will at least need to analyze the Supreme Court cases that talk
about the issue. Students will need to cite to other material that is peer-reviewed (i.e., that
has been reviewed by peers in the author’s field). Students need at least five references.
The pages need to be double-spaced, with one-inch margins and 12-point type. Students need to put
footnotes and references in an appropriate and consistent style. Students may select which style
they’d like to follow, although most might find it easiest to pick between APA and MLA style.
This exercise constitutes 25% of a student’s grade for the course.
NOTES
Instances of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to reliance upon others for answers
to questions or for access to information which could lead to the earning of a grade in this
class outside of the described and required conditions, will result in a grade of zero per
incident. All participants engaging in this conduct will receive a zero.
Students should know that this class will abide by the terms of the Americans with Disabilities
Act. Please contact the instructor as soon as possible so that reasonable accommodations can be
made so that a student can gain the fullest benefit of the course. Students should expect to
provide necessary documentation.
LESSONS
Students must read each of the ten chapters in the Schneeman text and do an on-line, open book
quiz on that material.
From the "Taking Sides" text, students need to read and to write a three-page analysis on the
following issues:
