Reframing "Professionalism:" An Integral View of Lawyering's Lofty Ideals

Whereas legal ethics define what every lawyer must do, legal professionalism takes on the more difficult task of defining the core values that the very best lawyers should aspire to in their practice. The legal profession is granted a certain amount of autonomy and independence by American society, and the continuing legitimacy of this social contract depends on the notion that the profession will take care to regulate itself and maintain standards of conduct commensurate with its essential function.