Professionalism Education

The Rules of Professional Conduct and Minimum Continuing Legal Education establish minimal standards of competence and acceptable conduct; they do not define the criteria for ethical or professional behavior. Professionalism is meant to address the aspirations of the profession-how we can together preserve and strengthen the dignity, honor, and integrity of the legal profession.

Exploration of the aspirations of the profession may occur in the context of professional responsibility continuing legal education, and the Commission encourages such educational experiences that focus on ethical approaches to circumstances not addressed by law or the Rules or occurring because of conflicting rules or obligations. Moreover, the Court defined professional responsibility continuing legal education broadly—as including topics of professionalism, diversity, civility, and mental illness and addiction issues as well as the traditional legal ethics.

All continuing legal education courses and activities in the areas of professional responsibility are subject to substantive review and approval by the Professionalism Commission.