Humanities and the Legal Profession

Abstract

This draft paper describes the work of the two co-authors (Joseph P. Tomain and Michael L. Cioffi) with their experiences in J.D. and post-J.D. education linking legal ethics and professionalism to the humanities. This paper first provides a working definition of the humanities and then goes on to discuss the development of legal ethics and professionalism in the United States starting with the work of David Hoffman and George Sharswood taking it through the CPR, the Model Rules, and Ethics 2000. The paper also references key works on professionalism, including key ABA reports such as the MacCrate Report. The article closes with examples describing how Plato's REPUBLIC, Sophocles' ANTIGONE, and Machiavelli's THE PRINCE have been used to sharpen discussion of legal ethics and professionalism.