Effective Teaching of Legal Ethics: Use an Applied Ethicist

Abstract

Legal ethics, particularly at undergraduate level, should incorporate the expertise and teaching of someone outside traditional legal education and professions. Most appropriately, legal ethics education should involve an applied ethicist. Whilst lawyers are very good at identifying critical legal issues, it is the ethical issues that are of concern here. I therefore propose that because laws often have a deep-rooted ethical foundation and students need to appreciate this to truly understand the aim, nature and objective of the relevant law, legal ethics should be taught in cooperation with an applied ethicist. I begin by creating a foundation for my argument about using an applied ethicist by addressing ethics teaching at undergraduate level. Next, I make a case for ethics teaching beyond professional ethics and teaching to codes of conduct. It is at this juncture, in the third section, where I explain the benefits of involving an applied ethicist in legal education. Finally, I will address possible concerns related to integrating an applied ethicist into Law School teaching.