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This is a core course in the Bachelor of Laws program. It is approved by the Legal Profession Admissions Board (Qld) and the Chief Justice of Queensland as meeting the ethics and professional responsibility area of knowledge under the Supreme Court (Admission) Rules 2004 (Qld) and therefore includes the various pertinent rules concerning a practitioner’s duty to the law, the Courts, clients and fellow practitioners, and a basic knowledge of the principles relating to the holding of money on trust.

The course deals with the various pertinent rules concerning a practitioner's duty to the law, the Courts, clients and fellow practitioners, and a basic knowledge of the principles relating to the holding of money on trust. It looks at the nature of legal practice, and involves further study of philosophies of applied ethics in legal practice. It includes skills exercises in letter drafting, and accounting for client money. Topics studied include the regulation of the legal profession; admission and discipline; engagement; billing; and responsibilities in relation to client money; the conduct of litigation and advocacy; competence and careful practice; confidences; and loyalty to clients. It also deals with civility and courtesy in dealings with clients and other lawyers.

On successful completion of this course students should be able to demonstrate the following outcomes:

1. Demonstrate [explain and apply] an understanding of a coherent body of knowledge of ethics and professional responsibility and underlying principles and concepts; and the principles and values of ethical practice in lawyers’ roles (PO1/TLO1).
2. Demonstrate an understanding of approaches to ethical decision-making [explain, apply and evaluate]; an ability to recognise and reflect upon (and a developing ability to respond to) ethical issues likely to arise in professional contexts; an ability to recognise and reflect upon the professional responsibilities of lawyers in promoting justice and in service to the community; and a developing ability to exercise professional judgment (PO2/TLO2).
3. Identify and articulate legal issues relating to ethics and professional responsibility; apply legal reasoning and research to generate appropriate responses to those legal issues; engage in critical analysis and make a reasoned choice amongst alternatives; and think creatively in approaching those legal issues and generating appropriate responses (PO3/TLO3).
4. Demonstrate the intellectual and practical skills needed to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues relating to ethics and professional responsibility (PO4/TLO4).
5. Communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences (PO5/TLO5).