COLLEGE OF LAW
Course syllabus/Outline
Program LLB, I Year Law Students (Regular program for DB University Students)
Course Title Legal Ethics
Course code Laws-5022
Course status Mandatory
Credits 2
Class Room SE-06, Room 145
Lecture Period Tuesday from 8:00- 9:30 o’clock) Local Time, and Saturday from 3:00-5:00
o’clock Local Time)
Academic Year / 2024/2025: Semester II
Semester
Instructor Name and His Yirga Dejene Tassie, (LLB,LLM, Criminal Litigation Service Rendering Core
Profile Process Coordinator and Judge in the North Shewa Zone High Court of the
Amhara National Regional State), Phone number 0921131120 , and e-mail
[email protected]
Course Description The course Legal Profession and Ethics discusses basic civil values such as
acting with strict impartiality, the rule against taking part in decisions involving
personal interest, the rule against accepting bribes/corruption etc.
The course will provide awareness and understanding of the meaning and
requirements of ethical conduct of legal professionals in the administration
of the law, the contributions which ethical professional conduct of officials can
make to the realization of the rule of law and the practical ways of achieving
these aims.
In addition, it explores the meaning and nature of legal profession and the
ethics of legal profession in connection with constitutional rights to counsel
(Art.20 (5)), legal aid and constitutional duty of courts to enforce
fundamental human rights (Art.13).
The course also analyzes the federal and regional states’ codes of conduct
adopted for advocates, prosecutors and judges.
Objectives of the course, o After a successful completion of the course, students are expected to achieve
Competence Achieved basic knowledge and competence regarding:
the rules that govern legal professionals and the distinctions between ethical
and unethical conduct;
the liabilities of legal professionals for violating codes of conduct of legal
professionals;
basic civil values such as impartiality, independence, competence and
Legal Profession and Ethics Fifth Year LLB Law Students (Regular program) Page 7
diligence;
constitutional principles underlying code of professional ethics;
the nature of legal profession by defining and distinguishing it from other
occupations;
the basic principles of moral philosophy (ethics);
the purposes and functions of ethics of the legal profession;
the application of ethical rules (codes of conduct) and principles to practical
cases;
Anti-social ethical practices in general, and particularly, corruption and fraud.
Course contents
Chapter I
Introduction Legal Profession and Ethics
A. Historical background
B. The concept of ethics, professional ethics and legal ethics
C. Moral issues and moral dilemmas
D. The philosophy or theory of moral obligations
Utilitarianism
Act utilitarianism
Rule utilitarianism
The golden rule
Categorical imperative
Using Others as Mere Means
Treating Others as Ends in Themselves
Chapter II
Legal Profession
A. Meaning and nature of legal profession
B. Admission to the legal profession
C. Constitutional right to exercise legal profession
D. Dissatisfaction with legal profession
E. Bar associations and their role in Legal Profession
F. Unauthorized practice in legal profession
Chapter III
Judicial conduct
A. Requirements of Judges in Judicial Activities
Accountability
Impartiality
Competence and diligence
Equality
Civility among judges
B. Ethical requirements of judges in extra-judicial activities
C. Appointment, withdrawal, transfer, promotion and removal
Legal Profession and Ethics Fifth Year LLB Law Students (Regular program) Page 7
Judicial appointment
Judges’ tenure and removal of the mechanisms
Criteria for appointment
Appointment of judges in other countries such as USA and India
Appointment, Withdrawal and Removal of Judges in Ethiopia
Federal Judicial Administration Council
Criteria for Judicial Appointment
Procedure of Appointments
Withdrawal and Removal of Judges
D. Factors that influence ethical requirement of judges
E. Liability (Responsibility) for Breach of Rules of Conduct
Disciplinary Agency
Disciplinary Measures
Procedures of Disciplinary Proceedings
Chapter IV
Advocates’ Ethics
Introduction
A. The Profession, the Justice System, Court and the Country
B. Ethical requirements of advocates in relation to their clients
Diligent and competent representation
Duty of Confidentiality
Contract of advocacy
Conflict of Interest
C. Nonprofessional subsidiary activities
D. Ethical requirements of advocates in relation to courts
E. Ethical requirements of advocates in relation to the opponent
F. Ethical requirements of advocates in relation to colleagues
G. Ethical requirements of advocates in relation to the state
H. Ethical requirements of advocates in non-professional activities
I. Liability for breach of rules of conduct
Chapter V
Ethics of the Public Prosecutor
A. Eligibility
B. Legal Basis and Basic Ethical Principles for the Functions of Public Prosecutor
Independence, Impartiality and Immunity
Confidentiality
Competence and Diligence
Loyalty and Avoidance of Conflict of Interest
C. Ethical Requirements of public prosecutor
In relation to the accused/suspect/
In relation to the public
In relation to the police
In relation to the court
D. Conflict of Interest and subsidiary activities
E. Engaging in Activities Outside Official Duties
Legal Profession and Ethics Fifth Year LLB Law Students (Regular program) Page 7
F. Other Ethical Considerations
G. Liability for Violation of Codes of Conduct for Prosecutors
Administrative (Disciplinary) Liabilities
Criminal Liabilities
Civil Liabilities
Mode of Delivery Lectures, seminars, student presentations, group discussions, individual and
Group tutorials, assignments and project supervisions.
Mode of Assessment The final grade shall be determined based on the performance of students in
the following activities:
Class Participation…5%
Class attendance …5%
Mid exam…25%
Assignments / Project/ Essays…15%
Final Exam(s)…50%
References to the course Best Reference materials
Abdi Jebril and Zenebe Adelahu, legal profession and ethics teaching
material, Sponsored by the Justice and Legal System Research Institute,2009.
The judicial integrity group, commentary on the Bangalore principles of
judicial conduct, March 2007
Proclamation No. 1/1995, Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of
Ethiopia, Federal Negarit Gazeta, 1st Year No. 1
Proclamation No. 1233/2021, Federal Judicial Administration Council
proclamation, Federal Negarit Gazeta, 27th Year No. 18
Proclamation No. 282/2022, The Amhara Region Courts Re-amendment
proclamation of the establishment of proclamation of judicial administration
commission, Zikre Hig, January 27th, 2023, Year No. 20th.
Proclamation No.1234/2021, Federal Courts Proclamation, Negarit Gazeta, April
2021, 27th Year No. 16th
Proclamation No.1249/2021, Federal Advocacy Service Licencing and
Administration Proclamation, Negarit Gazeta, 5th August, 2023, Year No. 42th.
Regulation No.47/1999, Federal Court Advocate code of conduct regulation,
Negarit Gazeta, 24th September, 1999, 6th Year No. 1.
Regulation No.443/2018, Federal Public Prosecutors’ Administration Council of Ministers
Regulation, Negarit Gazeta, 27th December 2018,25th year No.16.
መመሪያ ቁጥር 3/2017፣ የፌደራል ጠበቆች የድስፕሊን ክስ አቀራረብ እና የክርክር
ስነ ስርዓት መምሪያ፡፡
መመሪያ ቁጥር 1/2015፣ የጠበቆች አስተዳደር ቦርድ አሠራርን እና የቦርድን
ጽህፈት ቤት ተግባር ለመወሰን የወጣ መመሪያ፡፡
Other References
Aiyar, P. R. et.al., Legal and Professional Ethics: Legal Ethics, Duties and
Privileges of a Lawyer, New Delhi: Wadnwa Nagpur, 2003
Callahan, J.C. (ed.), Ethical Issues in Professional Life, New York, Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 1988
Legal Profession and Ethics Fifth Year LLB Law Students (Regular program) Page 7
Rai, K., Legal Ethics Accountability of Lawyers and Bench-Bar Relations, 7th
ed., Allahabad: Central Law Publications, 2007
Mynene, S.R., Professional Ethics, Accountancy for Lawyers and Bench-Bar
Relation, Hyderabad: Asia Law House, 2007
Schwartz, M.D. et. al., Problems in Legal Ethics, 5th ed., St.Paul, Minn: West
Group, 2001
Pojman, L. Ethics , 4th ed., Canada , Eve Haward, 2002
Cooper, T., Handbook of Administrative Ethics, USA, Marcel Dekker, inc.
1994
Head Michael and Scottman, Law in Perispective: Ethics, Society and Critical
Thinking, India, Universal Law Publishing co., 2005
Pojam, L.P. Philosophy: the Pursuit of Wisdom 3rd ed, Canada, 2001
Midgley‘s Lawyers‘ Professional Responsibility, Textbook: Cannon, Ethics &
Professional Responsibility for Legal Assistants, Current Edition; Aspen Law
and Business
ABA Compendium of Professional Responsibility Rules and Standards,
American Bar Association, 1997
Thomas, G. People, Practice, Attitudes and Problems in the Lower Courts of
Ethiopia, JEL, Vol.VI No.2
Wan, W. Law, Judges and Justice, Australia, 1991
Ronald D. R., Professional Responsibility, 3rd ed., 1992
Howard, L., Being a Lawyer: Individual Choice and Responsibility in the
Practice of Law, West Publishing Co., 1992
Arthur, G., Introduction to Legal Method in Ethiopia, 1967
Farrar, G.H. and Dugdale, A.M., Introduction to Legal Method, 3rd Ed, Sweet
and Maxwell, London, 1990
Proclamation No. 199/2000, Federal Courts Advocates Licensing and
Registration, Federal Negarit Gazeta, 6th Year No. 27
Federal Code of Judicial Conduct
ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct
The Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct
The Criminal Code of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, 9th of May
2005, Proclamation No. 414/2004
The Amhara National Regional State Proclamation to Provide for the
Licensing, Registration and Controlling the Codes of Conduct of Advocates,
2002, Pro.no.75/2002, Zikre hig, 7th year no.22
Council of Ministers Regulations No 44/1988: Council of Ministers
Regulations to Provide for the Administration of Federal Prosecutors
Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Regulation No. 4/2002
Legal Notice 269/1962
NB. The lecture period may re-amend if it deemed necessary.
The instructor will share some of the aforementioned basic materials to all students via
telegram. Therefore, if it is possible students need to have a group telegram account.
Legal Profession and Ethics Fifth Year LLB Law Students (Regular program) Page 7
