Birmingham School of Law - Honor Code
The purpose of this honor code is
to establish principles by which the students of Birmingham School of Law
will govern their conduct. Since honesty and integrity are essential
qualities in the practice of law, the students of the Birmingham School of
Law are required to maintain good character and perform their work to
reflect honor upon themselves and the school.
Birmingham School of Law expects
all students to be law abiding and honest citizens, to respect the rights of
others, and to refrain from behavior which tends to bring disrepute upon the
school’s reputation in the community. Students who have committed an act
or acts which adversely reflect on their honesty and ability to study or
practice law and/or bring disrupt to BSOL’s reputation in the community will
be disciplined and may forfeit their right to be students at Birmingham
School of Law.
VIOLATIONS
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Giving, obtaining or soliciting unauthorized
assistance or using unauthorized materials in the preparation of
material to be submitted or presented in a class or other activity
associated with the school. [If the Professor does not
specifically authorize
students to consult outside materials to answer questions and/or prepare
written assignments, and you use outside materials, then this violates
Rule 1.]
-
Concealing or stealing library books or other
library materials. Removing library books or materials from the library
without proper authorization. Defacing library books or materials.
Unauthorized use of the library computer and/or printer.
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Violating the “Westlaw User Agreement for
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Plagiarism, defined as representing, either
expressly or by conduct, the work of another to be one’s own work. [If
you fail to put quotation marks and cite the materials to the
appropriate source, you have violated Rule 4.]
-
Copying the work of another during an examination
or giving, soliciting, offering, or receiving any unauthorized
assistance or information during an examination. Using unauthorized
materials in any way during an examination. Improperly obtaining or
possessing an examination, assignment, answer sheet or similar material
in advance of such time as the student is privileged to possess it.
-
Making a material misrepresentation or knowingly
issuing a false oral or written statement to the BSL administration, BSL
professor (This includes any representation on a class roll or roster of
the presence of a student in class, who is not in fact present.) or the
Alabama State bar Association.
-
Revealing or disclosing the identity of any
person(s) accused or adjudicated of violating the Honor Code, or any
other information about an ongoing investigation or prosecution under
the Honor Code, to any person other than the Dean or the Associate Dean
of BSL. This would include discussing any potential or actual Honor Code
violation, investigation, action or results with anyone except the Dean
or the Associate Dean of BSL[You are only to discuss Honor Code
violations, allegations, investigations, hearings with the Dean and/or
Associate Dean. To discuss with anyone else is a violation of Rule 7]
-
Conduct for which one would be subject to
disciplinary action under the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct.
Conduct that adversely reflects on fitness to study or practice law,
including, but not limited to, commission of offenses that expose the
violator to criminal sanctions, whether or not those sanctions are
pursued by civil or other authorities.
Note: Negligent acts
mentioned above is defined to include acts that allow others to
violate the honor code, without intent on one’s part that a violation would
occur. For example; if a student in another class section asked to
review your paper assignment and if that behavior is forbidden by the other
professor’s instructions, there is a violation, even if you were not aware
of that professor’s instructions.