Registration Guide 2012-2013

Professional Responsibility Required Course

Power of courts over the legal profession, admission to practice, lawyer discipline, peer regulation, law firms, lawyer-client relationship, withdrawal, fees, division of fees, confidentiality, conflict of interest, competence and diligence, legal malpractice, limiting liability, raising claims and defenses, ethics in presenting evidence, fraud, perjury, duty to court and adverse parties, role of lawyer as advisor, intermediary, negotiator and mediator, preservation of client’s funds and property, duty to use I.O.L.T.A. account, advertising and solicitation, contact with unrepresented persons and public service. Judicial ethics will be referred to only briefly in class. Students are expected to actively participate in the class discussion. The Model Rules of Professional Conduct will be the primary source, but reference will also be made to differences in the Massachusetts Rules, the Code of Professional Responsibility and common law principles.

Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam MPRE Successful completion of the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is required in states in addition to the bar exam. Testing dates for the MPRE occur in August, November and March each year. Applications for the MPRE are available at http://www.ncbex.org/multistate-tests/mpre/

Massachusetts Massachusetts requires the MPRE be passed prior to application to the Massachusetts Bar. The minimum passing score for the MPRE for students taking the Mass Bar Exam is raised to 85. Other States Each student should inquire in the jurisdiction in which he or she plans to take the bar for specific MPRE requirements. Students may inquire directly at the National Conference of Bar Examiners. www.ncbex.org