I. Council on Professional Conduct

The Council on Professional Conduct serves multiple functions. First, they address possible violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Law Students. Second, they identify educational opportunities to develop understanding of ethical and professionalism standards, and to meet the Professional Conduct Education Requirements.

  • Dean’s Designee: Assistant Dean Bryan McDermott (mcdermottb@law.edu) 202-319-5996. The Dean’s Designee receives complaints of possible violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Law Students and investigates these complaints. The Dean’s Designee determines whether there is reason to believe that a violation has occurred and, if so, whether settlement is appropriate under the rules or the matter should move forward for hearing by the Council.

  • Council Members:
    Professor Beth Edinger (Faculty Chair)
    Professor Joel Alicea
    Professor Marshall Breger
    Professor Beth Winston

  • Student Members:
    Emily Bushman
    Marisa Gingerich
    Sarah Persico
    Gerald Sharpe
    Cynthia Turcios
    Julio Veizaga

II. Professional Conduct Education Programs

Professional Conduct Education programs are designed to explore ethical issues arising in law school or more broadly in the practice of law and help you develop your awareness of ethical concerns in legal practice and the good judgment to address them as they arise. To ensure the programs remain relevant to current legal practice, the programs are developed each semester.

The only events that qualify for professional conduct education credit are those planned by the Council or those brought to the Council by the Law School administration and approved by the Council.

III. Professional Conduct Education Program Graduation Requirements

All students must earn six professional conduct education credits (sometimes generally referred to as "honors credits" or "honors education") prior to graduation. Academic Rules XVI; Rules of Professional Conduct III. F.

You may earn credit for each Professional Conduct Education program you attend. At each Professional Conduct Education program, you will be asked to sign in or complete a form certifying attendance. Within a few days of the program, the Academic Affairs Office will enter your credit on your record.

It is expected you will fulfill your requirements through in-person attendance. All programs are video recorded, however, and posted on the Professional Conduct Education TWEN page on Westlaw. If you are unable to attend a program because of work obligations, illness, or other similar reasons, you may earn credit by viewing the video recording. Once you have watched the recording, please email Natalie Pucillo, pucillo@cua.edu, so that she may enter a credit for you.

To track your progress, you can check your current professional conduct education status on Cardinal Students under your "To Do" list. Please note that your record will not show the lectures you have attended/viewed but only the ones you have left to do. For example, if you see Ethics 5, Ethics 6, this means that you have completed four requirements and have two left to do. The numbers do not refer to particular lectures or videos.