The Legal Profession in Times of Turbulence

Abstract

From 15 to 17 July 2010, over 150 lawyers, academics and practitioners gathered at Stanford University for the Fourth International Legal Ethics Conference. The number of participants and the breadth and quality of the presentations at this conference were clear evidence of the continuing energy and enthusiasm amongst scholars and practitioners for the field of legal ethics. While the tranquil and beautiful summertime campus at Stanford and the quiet efficiency of the conference organising staff did not echo the theme of the conference (Times of Turbulence), many sessions during the full conference schedule did. In particular, we were constantly reminded of the rapid and complex changes occurring in legal practice across the globe, and the consequent challenges faced by both the legal profession and academia in understanding, practicing and teaching legal ethics.