Ethical Problems in the Practice of Law

by Lisa G. Lerman, Philip G. Schrag, Robert Rubinson

This problem-based book reflects the authors’ broad range of teaching, clinical, and policy-making experience. The book’s carefully crafted ethical problems challenge students to engage in a deep analysis and participate in lively class discussion.

Features

Real-world problems, most based on actual cases, in which students are asked to step into the shoes of practicing lawyers to confront difficult ethical dilemmas that often arise in practice. The law governing lawyers explained in an accessible question-and-answer format. A succinct explanation of relevant Model Rules and other law governing lawyers, including examples from disciplinary and malpractice cases. An opportunity for students, through specific examples, to reflect on their own conception of their professional roles on behalf of clients and their obligations to the legal system as a whole. Lively presentation of materials, including cartoons, tables, and photos. Clear and concise presentation through text and charts that summarize relevant law.  

Unsolicited comments from adopters of Ethical Problems in the Practice of

 

Professor Cynthia Batt, Stetson University College of Law, wrote that this book “has the BEST teacher’s manual of any text ever.” Professor Jamie P. Werbel, Seton Hall University School of Law I wanted to drop you a line and let you know how fabulous your textbook is! I just started teaching Professional Responsibility this year, and your book has been invaluable to me as I guide my students through the course. My husband, also an attorney, made fun of me last semester as a few times I was reading it at night in bed! It really is just that enjoyable to read.  

New to the 6th

A comprehensive revision of the entire text, adding material to continue to provide students with a wealth of opportunities to grapple with ethical issues. Inclusion of recent developments in the field, Discussion of the amendments to Model Rule 1.8 regarding gifts to The new ABA ethics opinion on what constitutes material adversity under Rule 1.9; Developments in some states on permitting non-lawyers to provide some legal services; Changes in some states’ rules on non-lawyer ownership of firms; Expanded coverage of ethical issues arising from use of the Internet and social media, such as an ABA opinion on how lawyers may respond to online critiques of their services. Material on recent events that have raised important issues of professional responsibility, especially discipline and sanctions for lawyers who made unfounded claims about the 2020 presidential election. Updated empirical information about the practice of law, including the continuing concerns about diversity within the profession.  

Benefits for

Problem-based approach, often based on real-life cases, offers students a practical way to test their understanding Graphics (cartoons, tables, photos) throughout, which make the presentation lively and engaging Shocking examples of recent lawyer misconduct maintain student interest A readable and enjoyable law school textbook  

Genres: Law, Nonfiction, Legal

894 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2005

Reviews

[Clay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. Could not recommend less.

[Saige Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over 1000 pages and no one even kisses at the end 💔💔

[Catherine Dukelow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This textbook was a nice bit of variety from my
other textbooks as it wasn’t as case heavy. It covers some stuff that is pretty basic in my opinion, but I guess some people do need to be told that discrimination is wrong. I also enjoyed that there were little cartoons in here, a nice little treat now and again. The book did what it was supposed to do.

[Andrew Yuan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this book, I was initially excited to learn legal ethics. The issue with this book is part the author's fault and part the legal community's fault. The frameworks are blurry and one could easily debate how to interpret the rules, which makes me believe that these rules were created for the ABA to disclaim liability. The author presents the information in such a messy way that it is difficult to find certain pages and everything is chalked up to "Can a lawyer do X? No".

[emilia borg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book! Helpful, good info, easy to read

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

This textbook is a perfect characterization of the current market of money-grubbing psuedo-academic publishers clinging leach-like to the field of higher education. Lerman, one of the two authors, has a fascinating body of research. She conducts anonymous surveys in the legal field in an attempt to determine what kind of violations to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct are happening in practice, and the extent to which these violations occur. That is actual, legitimate scholarship. This book is not. On the basis of Lerman's own research, this book is amusing. One example of Lerman's findings shows a common trend of illegally profiting on mundane services within law firms, which includes things like profiting on making copies, buying paper, having interns make coffee, etc." "Profiting on mundane services," as it turns out, would be a great back cover description for this book.

Despite being short and having little content, this is the most expensive law textbook I have yet had to purchase. There are a number of tactics for driving up the price of this book: the text is the largest I've ever seen in a textbook, there is a significant amount of filler, and the book is crammed full of pictures. The filler is not subtle. Every MRPC rule has a summary, which was apparently created by the following method: take the rule, pop open your thesaurus, substitute in some synonyms, write down the edited version, and you've got a summary. There is also a good deal of overlap with the MRPC comments, which are entirely free. But our authors have reordered some of the words and sold them, at a profit, as original content.

And then there are the pictures, which are probably the most egregious tactic. Before I got tired of counting, I found that the book contained at least 91 pictures, 3 graphics, and 42 comics. Each comic, for reference, takes up from 1/4 to 1/2 of a page. "What are these pictures of?" you might ask. Professors. For almost every legal scholar quoted in this book, a picture of said scholar is included. How many times have I sat back over a legal textbook and thought, "I don't understand this at all. I wish I had a pictures of the professor who wrote this to help with my comprehension!" Fear not! Lerman and Schrag have you covered, because clearly pictures of authors are a competent way of making readers understand legal ethics more thoroughly. Other highlights include pictures of Presidents Nixon and Clinton (because a significant number of graduate school-aged students capable of reading this book in English have obviously never seen a pictures of Bill Clinton before), which are truly enlightening. To top it all off, Lerman threw in some pictures to go with her hypotheticals. This includes such things as a picture of a taxi, a picture of a cafe, and a picture of a washing machine. Who would have thought a taxi looked like that!

This seems an appropriate note to end on. You just paid over $300 for a book whose authors and publishers, knowing that this book was targeted entirely at graduate students, thought it reasonable to include a picture OF A WASHING MACHINE.

[Mackenzie Blackwell · Rating 1 out of 5]

We quite literally read the whole thing. How’s that for professional responsibility.

[Jace · Rating 2 out of 5]

The print was way too large in this book. Normally I would thank the publishers, because my eyesight is rapidly fading as a law student. But between the giant font and the worthless pictures, this book was twice as large (and twice as expensive) as it should have been. Basically, it's just a glorified restatement of the Model Rules. Nothing special here. Plus the class sucked.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very straightforward.
This book gives you the rules and tells you how to apply them. It does not play hide the ball with you.

[Pamela Cespedes]

If I had to read a whole textbook about legal ethics, I’m FOR SURE going to count it in my Goodreads goal. 😤😤

[Maddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only law textbook I think I'll ever read that has a cartoon nipple in it. I wish I was kidding. Two stars because it actually taught me a couple things.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent. I'm for sure getting credit for reading this.

[SK]

Bedtime stories for legal ethicists.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting textbook. Clear examples and tables. Good stories.

[Earl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Would not recommend this book. Read an E&E on PR, or watch some MPRE videos instead. This book is highly over priced for the value it delivers.