VI. STUDENT HONOR CODE

PART IINTRODUCTION


Sec. 1-1 Philosophy.  Acceptance to Saint Louis University School of Law represents the first step toward participation in the legal profession.  Membership in the student body, and ultimately in the legal profession, entails a unique set of responsibilities to fellow students, to the law school, to the legal profession, and to the public at large. The legal profession demands the highest degree of trustworthiness, honesty and integrity.  As future members of that profession, students of the Saint Louis University School of Law are bound to observe the principles that reflect the same high standards that govern the practice of law.  This Honor Code sets forth the minimum standards by which the conduct of all students of the Saint Louis University School of Law shall be governed. 

Sec. 1-2Duty to Comply with the Honor Code.  It shall be the duty of all students to comply with the provisions of the Honor Code.  Applicants for admission to the Law School will be advised of their obligations under the Honor Code in the event they are admitted and choose to atten          

Sec. 1-3Duty to Report Violations.  It shall be the duty of all students to report any case where the student knows of facts indicating a significant likelihood that a violation of this Honor Code has been committed. 

Sec. 1-4Definitions:     

(1) Assistant Dean – Assistant Dean of Students for the Law School.

(2) Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson – Elected officers of the Honor Council.

(3) Complainant – A member of the Law School student body, faculty, administration, or staff who reports a suspected or alleged violation of the Honor Code to the Investigator.  The term “staff” includes all temporary and part-time Law School employees.

(4) Dean – Dean of the Law School.

(5) Faculty – The terms “faculty” and “faculty member” include tenured and tenure-track faculty, clinical faculty, legal research and writing instructors, librarians who teach law school classes, and visiting and adjunct professors.

(6) Hearing Panel – A panel designated to adjudicate a particular case.

(7) Honor Code – The Student Honor Code of the Law School.

(8) Honor Council – The main student body responsible for administration and enforcement of the Honor Code.

(9) Investigator – A faculty or staff member appointed by the Dean to investigate alleged Honor Code violations.

  (10) Law School – The Saint Louis University School of Law.

(11) Plagiarism Policy – The Saint Louis University School of Law Plagiarism Policy   Statement adopted by the Law School faculty, as amended.

 (12) Presiding Officer – A student appointed by the Honor Council to preside at a Hearing Panel.

 (13) Prosecutor – A student appointed by the Chairperson to charge and prove an alleged violation of the Honor Code.

 (14) Respondent – Any person who is accused of having violated the Honor Code while a student.

 (15) SBA – Student Bar Association.

 (16) Student – A person who is or was enrolled in one or more courses at the Law School.

 (17) University – Saint Louis University.

Sec. 1-5Scope. The Honor Code identifies inappropriate acts and omissions that students must avoid while on University owned or controlled property, or while acting in an academic capacity, or while participating in an activity that is organized or sponsored in whole or in part by the Law School.  This Honor Code shall govern violations alleged to have occurred while the Respondent is or was enrolled as a student, including violations discovered subsequent to Respondent’s graduation, subject to the statute of limitations contained in section 1-8.  Actions of the Honor Council under this Honor Code shall have no effect on the decisions of individual professors concerning a student’s grade in a class. 

Sec. 1-6This Honor Code supplements, but does not supplant any other Law School or University Policies or rules of conduct that may be in effect at the time of the alleged violation.

Sec. 1-7Agreement to be Bound by the Honor Code as a Precondition to Registration.  Enrollment in a Law School class constitutes agreement to be bound by the Honor Code.  Each student who attends the Law School shall, prior to the beginning of his/her first semester of law school, sign a statement which states that the student (1) has read the provisions of the Honor Code; (2) understands that he or she has a duty to comply with those provisions; (3) acknowledges that the submission of any academic work shall constitute a representation on the student’s part that such work has been done and its submission is being made in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Honor Code; and (4) consents to the jurisdiction of the Honor Council in matters governed by the Honor Code.  Students in other parts of the University who cross-register for Law School classes shall sign a similar statement at the beginning of each semester in which they enroll in a Law School class. 

Sec. 1-8Statute of Limitations.  A complaint may not be filed against any student if more than one year has passed since: a) the student graduated; or b) the student completed his/her last law school class.

Sec. 1-9Availability of the Honor Code.  The Honor Code is accessible to students and applicants for admission to the Law School on the Law School Student Services website.  A paper copy will be provided to every student who chooses to attend the Law School.