School of Law Honor Code
Academic integrity at the School of Law is governed by the Honor Code. The School of Law Honor Code consists of the Wilmington University Code of Conduct together with amendments adopted by the School of Law. While the procedures for adjudication of Law School Honor Code matters differ in some respects from the procedures employed in the other schools of the University, the essential policies, standards and basic objectives of the Honor Code and the University Code of Conduct are entirely consistent. The School of Law amendments to the University’s “Violations of Conduct of the Code,” dealing with student responsibilities and misconduct, include the addition of the following:
Regardless of the content of stated rules and regulations, certain expectations and responsibilities apply to law students. By enrolling in law school, law students have chosen to be judged by the highest standards of professionalism and the highest ethical principles. Integrity and conduct above reproach are essential attributes for persons preparing for the legal profession. Students share in the responsibility to support an academic environment in which students act with integrity and an ongoing duty to disclose character and fitness issues as part of bar certification throughout their enrollment.
Consistent with “the responsibility to support an academic environment in which students act with integrity,” law students are obligated to report personal knowledge of another student’s misconduct under the Code. Accordingly, failure to report personal knowledge of another student’s misconduct is itself an act of misconduct for which a student may be disciplined. In addition, two misconduct provisions were added to address the misrepresentation of class attendance and falsification or concealment of information material to admission to law school, admission to the bar, or employment.
The law school’s amendments also cover the disciplinary procedures, which provide that the law school has authority in disciplining students at the school. Parallel procedures apply to both academic Honor Code and personal misconduct. These procedures provide important due process rights to any student accused of misconduct, such as notice of charges, an opportunity to respond, and appellate review.