Fall 2014 Course Schedule

Advanced Seminar: Case Studies in Ethical Challenges for Govt Attorneys (LAW-795-001)
Flug

Meets: 06:00 PM - 08:40 PM (T) - Room 504

Enrolled: 10 / Limit: 12

Administrator Access


Notices

For further information, email Professor Flug (link above).

Description

Advanced Seminar: Case Studies in Ethical Challenges for Government Attorneys Detailed historical & contemporary exploration of development and application of ethical standards for government attorneys, from Watergate to Drones. Using cases of Presidents Nixon, Clinton, Bush and Obama, VP Agnew, Deputy AG’s Kleindienst & Comey, Congressional members & staff, Judges & Justices, Justice & Defense Department officials and line lawyers, and ethical issues in policy-making on Torture & Drones, the course examines effectiveness, and impact on public confidence, of existing ethical constraints on government lawyers. Surveys guidance and remedies from state & national bar rules, federal rules, regulations, statutes, Congressional ethics processes, Office of Government Ethics, Inspectors General, DOJ Professional Responsibility Offices, Judicial Conference, Circuit Councils, international agencies.

Purpose and Objectives: To familiarize students who are considering becoming government lawyers with both the formal and practical ethical environment surrounding their professional work, and to examine possibilities for improving existing processes for monitoring professional standards, especially among federal lawyers. In general, classes will combine background readings and discussion on a particular facet of government lawyer ethics with review and discussion of primary and secondary documents underlying a particular historical case of note and raising serious questions about ethical decision-making (or absence thereof) by government lawyers. Many of these will utilize role-playing exercises, simulated proceedings relating to the case, research assignments, or oral and written reports on specific issues or questions by individual students or student teams.

Credit Hours: 3 Class will meet 3 hours weekly. All students will participate in a variety of supervised and critiqued practical skills activities, including class presentations, role play exercises, student introductions and questioning of guest speakers, and other special written and oral projects. All students will propose and submit a substantial term paper on a subject within the scope of the seminar, and eligible students may fulfill their Upper Level Writing Requirement by writing, under faculty supervision, a paper of at least 30 pages.

Textbooks and Other Materials

The textbook information on this page was provided by the instructor. Students should use this information when considering purchases from the AU Campus Store or other vendors. Students may check to determine if books are currently available for purchase online.

First Class Readings

Not available at this time.