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Ethics and Professional Responsibility

This research guide provides an overview of legal ethics and professional responsibility.

Introduction

Attorney professional ethics, commonly referred to as professional responsibility, are regulated in Georgia and throughout the United States. States like Georgia consider and adopt Model Rules of Professional Conduct with amendments where fits the jurisdiction's needs. Similarly, judges are also bound to follow their own ethics rules, called the Georgia Code of Judicial Conduct in our state.

To research in this area, you will need to consider a variety of sources including Rules of Professional Conduct or Code of Judicial Coduct and opinions from ethics boards, bar associations, and courts making decisions in attorney ethics matters.. 

This guide covers attorney and judicial professional ethics with a focus on the most essential sources and strategies. The guide also includes some tools for those studying for the MPRE (Multiestate Professional Responsibility Examination). 

Getting Started

The easiest way to get started is to begin with a secondary source that will explain the area of law and refer you to the law itself. You may also learn terms of art by starting your research in secondary sources. These sources are useful and recommended in this area. 

If you're trying to study for a professional responsibility course or the MPRE, a great place to start is with the Law Library Study Aids Collection. Here are a few favorites. You can find more by consulting the Study Aids and CALI Lessons listed in this guide.

Ethics and Professional Responsibility Websites

Georgia Ethics Helpline

Georgia Ethics Helpline 404-527-8720 or 800-334-6865

The Office of the General Counsel operates a Lawyer Helpline for members of the State Bar of Georgia who are faced with ethical dilemmas. The Helpline hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. An Assistant General Counsel can direct the caller to the ethics rules that cover a particular situation and can discuss the consequences of a course of action that the caller proposes.

Study Aids

Disclaimer: The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the State of Georgia, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. Georgia State University College of Law and the authors of the works contained on this website do not assume or accept any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, currentness, or comprehensiveness of the content on this website. The content on this website does not in any manner constitute the issuance of legal advice or counsel. The information on this website is intended to provide resources that may aid the research of the topics presented, and are in no way a comprehensive list of sources one should consult on the topics presented. Please note that case law, statutory law, and administrative law may be modified and/or overturned. Additionally, because the laws vary between jurisdictions, the laws referred to herein may or may not be applicable to the law within the reader’s jurisdiction.