Abstract
<p>Notwithstanding perennial debates about the ethical value of literature, the law and literature movement has grown, in part, as an ethical enterprise. I argue that using literary sources in CLE programs is an especially effective strategy for educating lawyers. First, great literature about law and lawyers is engaging, and engaging lawyers’ interest is a perennial challenge in CLE programming. Second, the ethical aspects of lawyering in various cultures and historical periods provide a comparative perspective on our own rules of professional conduct. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, literary sources provide a basis for critical reflection on what we call “Big E ethics”—namely, the responsibilities of lawyers, beyond the minimalistic rules, outlined in the prologue to the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. We are reminded to work for social justice, to improve the legal system, and to care for those who cannot afford lawyers (including pro bono representation)—great literature about legal processes and institutions frequently foregrounds these very needs. Literary examples easily multiply when looking for materials to address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as contemporary goals of the profession.</p>