The Professional Responsibilities of Lawyers: A Stakeholder Approach

Considerable discussion has taken place during the past 25 years or so regarding professional ethics ( Donaldson, 2000 ). While there has been some degree of disagreement surrounding “who counts” as a professional, there tends to be general agreement that law is a profession. The practice of law requires specialized training, qualification, and adherence to an independent ethical code. Further, as a profession, law is self-regulated ( Goyer, 2004 ). Although the practice of law has become quite diverse, legal professionals share common skill sets and encounter similar challenges in the disparate endeavors in which they engage.