Recitals
A. As officers of the court with responsibilities to the administration of justice, attorneys have an obligation to be professional and civil with clients, other parties and counsel, the courts and the public. This obligation includes professional integrity, personal dignity, candor, diligence, respect, courtesy, and cooperation, all of which are essential to the fair administration of justice and conflict resolution.
B. Civility and professionalism have been affected by a number of factors, including, without limitation, personal attacks, rude and disrespectful communications, and lack of punctuality, as a result of which there is a need for attorneys to recommit themselves to the principles of civility and professionalism.
C. The Board of Governors of the State Bar of California has adopted California Attorney Guidelines of Civility and Professionalism (“the Guidelines”).
D. The Faculty of Chapman University Fowler School of Law (“the Law School”) have determined that the Guidelines will be of significant assistance in encouraging students of the Chapman University Fowler School of Law, in their development as aspiring members of the bar, to continue to enhance their reputation and commitment to civility and professionalism, consistent with standards of conduct expected of attorneys by the State Bar of California.
E. This policy is intended is intended to facilitate an understanding on the part of students of the highest professional standards for interactions and engagement as set forth by the State Bar and custom and practice. This policy in no way affects students, faculty, and staff obligations and rights under University conduct policies, including policies against discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as the University’s Commitment to Free Speech.1 The Law School strongly encourages students to report promptly concerns of misconduct.
Resolution
The Faculty of Chapman University Fowler School of Law hereby approves and endorses the California Attorney Guidelines of Civility and Professionalism and requires that all students at Chapman University Fowler School of Law commit to, and shall be subject to, Sections 1, 4 (Preamble, a-f), and 5, inclusive, of such Guidelines, as adapted by the Faculty to apply to law students in both law school and public situations, all as set forth below.
Title
These provisions shall be titled “Chapman University Fowler School of Law Guidelines of Civility and Professionalism.”
Responsibilities to the Justice System
The dignity, decorum and courtesy that have traditionally characterized the courts and legal profession of civilized nations are not empty formalities. They are essential to an atmosphere that promotes justice and to an attorney’s responsibility for the fair and impartial administration of justice. Law students at the Chapman University Fowler School of Law shall at all times exhibit such dignity, decorum and courtesy in their interactions with administrators, faculty, staff, fellow students, court personnel, clinical clients, and any other persons whom they encounter in connection with their activities as a law student.
Communications
Law student communications with administrators, faculty, staff, fellow students, court personnel, clinical clients, and any other persons whom they encounter in connection with their activities as a law student should at all times reflect civility, professional integrity, personal dignity, and respect for the legal system, and for all persons to whom the communications are directed. A law student should not engage in conduct that would be considered unbecoming of a member of the Bar and an officer of the court.
For example, in communications with administrators, faculty, staff, fellow students, court personnel, clinical clients, and any other persons whom they encounter in connection with their activities as a law student, law students should aspire to the following conduct:
a. A law student’s conduct should be consistent with high respect and esteem for the civil and criminal justice systems, for the Law School, its administration, faculty, other students, court personnel, clinical clients, and any other persons whom they encounter in connection with their activities as a law student.
b. This guideline does not prohibit a law student’s good faith expression of dissent or criticism made in public or private discussions.
c. A law student should not gratuitously disparage the intelligence, integrity, ethics, morals or behavior of administrators, faculty, staff, fellow students, the court personnel, clinical clients, and any other persons whom they encounter in connection with their activities as a law student, when those characteristics are reasonably not at issue.
d. Respecting cultural diversity, a law student should not disparage another’s personal characteristics, in compliance with the Chapman University Student Conduct Code, found at https://www.chapman.edu/students/policies-forms/student-conduct/student-conduct-code-revised-12-10-24.pdf, and the Chapman University Unlawful Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Policy, found at https://www.chapman.edu/faculty-staff/human-resources/_files/harassment-discrimination-and-sexual-harassment-policy.pdf
e. A law student should not make false or misleading statements in connection with their activities as a law student.
f. Students are encouraged to strive to engage with others in a collegial and respectful manner, including during conversations involving debate or conflict. The ability to discuss, debate, negotiate, and otherwise interact with others with professionalism is central to the State Bar’s principles of civility and courtesy to be exhibited by an attorney, as well as public confidence in the profession. A law student should avoid speaking hostile, demeaning or humiliating words in compliance with the Chapman University Student Conduct Code and the Chapman University Unlawful Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Policy.
Punctuality
A law student shall be punctual in attending classes, hearings, meetings, on-campus interviews, and other scheduled matters.
For example:
a. A law student should arrive sufficiently in advance to resolve preliminary matters, if any.
b. A law student should timely notify participants when the law student will be late to classes, hearings, meetings, and other scheduled matters or is aware that another participant will be late.
c. A law student who is directed to attend a meeting with a member of the Administration, faculty, or staff shall attend that meeting. The failure to do so will be considered a violation of these guidelines, unless the student has a legitimate reason, and reports it to the Assistant Dean for Student Services before the date and time of the meeting.
Violations of these Guidelines
Violations of these Guidelines by any law student shall be referred for disciplinary action under the provisions of the Chapman University Student Conduct Code, but only if such violation is also a violation of the Chapman University Student Conduct Code. If the violation is not a violation of the Chapman University Student Conduct Code, then the Assistant Dean for Student Services shall review the violation with the student.
If the Assistant Dean for Student Services determines that the violation is established by a preponderance of the evidence, then the Assistant Dean for Student Services shall so notify the student and attempt to resolve the matter with a written student acknowledgment of the violation, and shall keep a record of the violation for the duration of the student’s time at the Law School. Upon the student providing a written acknowledgment, and if the student engages in no further violations of these Guidelines or the Student Conduct Code, the Assistant Dean for Student Services will not enter the violation in the student’s Law School file.
If the student does engage in any further violations of these Guidelines or the Student Conduct Code, the violation will be entered into the student’s Law School file.
If the student fails or refuses to provide a written acknowledgment, the violation shall result in a meeting with the Dean of the Law School (or, if the violation was made in the presence of the Dean, the student shall meet with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Governance and Strategic Initiatives), a notation of the violation in the student’s Law School file, and, at the student’s request, a written response by the student to be placed in the student’s Law School file. A report of the violation shall be made in connection with a student’s Moral Character Application (or its equivalent) to the relevant State Bar in connection with a student’s application for admission to that Bar, but only if such violation is of a type of conduct which the applicable State Bar considers to be a reportable violation (such as, for example, dishonesty, substance abuse, or financial mismanagement).
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