Professional Responsibility Resource Guide

Professionalism as a Law Student

"A law school shall maintain a rigorous program of legal education that prepares its students, upon graduation, for admission to the bar and for effective, ethical, and responsible participation as members of the legal profession"

- Chapter 3 to the ABA Standards and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools 2020-2021

The ABA section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar publishes the Standards and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools annually.  This quote explains why professional responsibility begins in law school.  Law schools are the gateway to the legal profession.  As such, they should seek to promote high standards of professional competence, responsibility, and conduct and must provide an educational program that ensures that students understand their ethical responsibilities as officers of the court, representatives of clients, and public citizens responsible for the quality and availability of justice.

• Touro Law Center Student Handbook

  • All students must conduct themselves, personally and professionally, according to the Touro College Code of Conduct and the Touro College and University System Academic Integrity Policy. Students must also comply with all requirements imposed by the administration, any member of the full-time or part-time faculty and their designees, provided that such requirements reasonably relate to the educational process or the administration of the Law Center.

• NYSBA for Law Students

  • The law student division of the NYSBA offers many resources to students to prepare them for their legal careers. In addition to those services and resources offered above, the NYSBA Law Student division also offers students career advice, scholarship opportunities, as well as student loan options and bar prep discounts.

Professionalism as a Licensed Attorney

The American Bar Association Center for Professional Responsibility provides national leadership in developing and interpreting standards in legal and judicial ethics, professional regulation and offers guidance in areas such as professionalism and client protections.

The New York State Bar Association provides resources and support for attorneys in complying with the Professional Standards for Attorneys in New York State.

Both the ABA and NYSBA provide resources for new attorneys as well as current law students.

• ABA Center for Professional Responsibility
  • The Center for Professional Responsibility provides national leadership in developing and interpreting standards and offers scholarly resources in legal and judicial ethics, professional regulation, professionalism and client protection.
• ABA Young Lawyers Division
  • The Young Lawyers Division is the ABA’s home for new attorneys, giving members tools to navigate the early years of their career, opportunities to network, and resources to grow their skills. Beyond professionalism you will find other information on topics such as student debt or CLEs
• NYSBA Professional Standards
  • PLEASE NOTE: The New York Rules of Professional Conduct have been adopted by the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court and are published as Part 1200 of the Joint Rules of the Appellate Division (22 NYCRR Part 1200). The Appellate Division has not enacted the Preamble, Scope and Comments, which are published solely by the New York State Bar Association to provide guidance for attorneys in complying with the Rules. Where a conflict exists between a Rule and the Preamble, Scope or a Comment, the Rule controls.
• NYSBA Young Lawyers Section
  • The Section’s mission is to effectively meet the unique and changing needs of young lawyers by: providing a means through which they may discuss and exchange ideas and cooperate, encourage, and assist each other concerning issues common to them; offering opportunities to enhance their professional competence, skills, and ethical development; providing opportunities for career and leadership development, mentoring, and networking; and encouraging their interest and participation in the YLS, the New York State Bar Association, the legal profession, and their communities.

• NYSBA for Law Students

  • The law student division of the NYSBA offers many resources to students to prepare them for their legal careers. In addition to those services and resources offered above, the NYSBA Law Student division also offers students career advice, scholarship opportunities, as well as student loan options and bar prep discounts.

• Lawyer Assistance Program

  • The Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) offers support services to lawyers, judges, law students and their families who need assistance navigating every day emotional health struggles, substance abuse disorders, and more challenging mental health issues.