Through a January 14 presentation to first-year Elon Law students during the Winter Term course, "Lawyering, Leadership and Professionalism," University of St. Thomas law professor Hank Shea discussed the importance of ethics in the legal profession and presented a "Top Ten List of Lessons Learned from White Collar Crime."
Shea, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney who specialized in white collar crime, explored the decision-making process of criminals whose actions ranged from embezzling money and forging signatures, to failing to report the illegal actions of colleagues.
He illustrated his findings through video monologues featuring white-collar offenders, many of whom he prosecuted.
Some of the offenders featured were CEOs of large companies who decided to make a “one-time fix for a one-time problem,” as one offender put it. Another offender was a law student who worked part-time for a political campaign and was paid through public funds, instead of through campaign funds.
Although each crime was different, the white-collar offenders all had the same purpose in agreeing to participate in Shea’s video interviews: help to prevent others from making similar mistakes in their careers.
In the video interviews, each offender candidly describes a slippery slope in decision-making, from minor ethical lapses to larger violations.
“The first step is the window to either doing things the right way or the wrong way,” Shea said. “Even if it is a minor matter, if you make the wrong decision and compromise yourself, you are setting yourself up for much worse. There almost always will be a second time, and then a third time, and if you continually make the bad decision in small matters it will lead to larger wrongdoing and possible criminal conduct.”
Shea urged law students to make the most ethical decisions in all endeavors and that those who live with high values will almost always be successful in life.
“I am convinced if you look at the best organizations, whether they be companies or law firms, those that do things right, that care about their reputation, that put the client before themselves, are almost always the most successful in this country,” Shea said. “Success, when based on ethical conduct and ethical leadership, is sustainable.”
Elon Law student, Alex Walton said Shea’s presentation made a compelling case to consider ethics in the profession more deeply at every stage of one’s career.
“The presentation was both informative and entertaining. He was a model of professional integrity we could all strive to emulate,” Walton said.
Shea ended the lecture by sharing three overarching lessons from his research: act with integrity, exhibit courage, and honor your reputation.
Ultimately, Shea said, “if you can say at the end of the day, at the end of your year, or even at the end of your life, that I did the best I could, I did it the right way, and I stuck to values like integrity and courage, then it doesn’t matter what position you hold, it doesn’t matter how much money you make, you will have lived your life well, and people will remember you in that way as well.”
By Ashley Hansen, L’12
