12 July 2005
A lawyer without ethics is like a psychopath with a machine gun, Monash University researcher Adrian Evans will tell a conference starting tomorrow.
Associate Professor Evans, from the Faculty of Law, believes teaching law students to be ethical is vital.
He will discuss his views at the conference, Flowers in the desert: Clinical legal education, ethical awareness and community service.
"Three processes and values -- clinical legal education, legal ethics and community service - need to be included in the mix of legal education," Professor Evans said.
"This will produce lawyers who are more likely to value justice rather than those who are simply looking to create wealth."
Professor Evans says clinical legal education allows students to obtain hands-on practical experience, which is more likely to produce lawyers with a conscience.
"It puts them in touch with real clients and allows them to make a contribution to society by providing legal access to those who can't afford to pay for it and might otherwise take the law into their own hands."
Justice educators, clinical legal educators, community legal centres, legal aid lawyers and legal ethicists from around the world will examine the challenges and opportunities facing clinical legal education at a conference hosted by the Monash University Law School and Northumbria University, UK.
What: 'Flowers in the desert: Clinical legal education, ethical awareness and community service' conference
Where: Novotel St Kilda, 16 The Esplanade, St Kilda
When: Wednesday 13 July -- Friday 15 July
Program:
http://cleconference.edu.au/program.html
For further information contact Ms Natasha Whalley, Media Communications, on 03 9905 9201 or 0437 458 457 or Ms Jodi Rockman, Faculty of Law, on 9905 2630.
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