How should I handle potential conflict-of-interest issues arising out of students externship placements?
As just noted, it is likely that you will on occasion come across potential or actual conflicts of interest arising among students’ diverse field placements (or between your students’ and your own work, for that matter). This is precisely one of the reasons why “real world” ethics considerations should infuse your externship seminar, and why externship seminars, unlike in-house clinics, cannot use the “one law firm” model for classroom discussion of matters in which students are involved. As in the case of confidentiality considerations, you will have to use professional judgment in handling such matters. Raising them for class consideration can also provide wonderful teaching opportunities.
