Prospectus

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Legal Profession and Ethics

Course
2014-2015

This course aims at strengthening corporate lawyers or advocates and judges working in the field of corporate law, with respect to the ethical aspects of their (future) work. The course will focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Business decisions have a direct impact on all levels of society: economic, social, environmental and cultural. Therefore companies have been encouraged by governments, international organisations and civil society to conduct their business in a ‘socially responsible way’.
Students have been introduced to the laws and regulations applicable in CSR-issues (during the International Corporate Law course). In this course they will develop a more thorough knowledge of the ethical aspects of the work of corporate lawyers and advocates and judges linked to CSR-issues. How should these lawyers react to corporate government codes? Do they have to reflect on the responsibility of parent companies for their subsidiaries doing business abroad? Do they contractual remedies in the field of CSR and their limits with a view to market regulation. Topics include fair competition, anti-bribery, fraud, whistleblowers, rules on secrecy, corporate crime and protection of consumers, employees and local communities.
During this interactive course, students will be taught the ability to demonstrate a critical and independent view when confronted with a CSR-issue as a corporate lawyer or advocate, or as a judge, and report orally and in writing.