Question on promissory oaths

[Cojuanco]

As a law student, I was invited to take a certain promissory oath before a judge relating to my conduct as a law student and later on as a legal professional. The next day, my Contracts professor pointed out that the oath actually has no legal force. The question is, am I still bound on pain of sin to execute the oath I took, even if the oath is not legally binding according to secular law?

 

[Petaro]

I am not sure which jurisdiction you live in, so I can only comment on the Common Law jurisdiction you will find in England and in Australia. When admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court in any Australian State, you have to make an oath to practice according to the Ethics of the Profession and under the rules of the Supreme Court. This oath has severe consequences if you are found to have been guilty of professional misconduct. I think you should check with the legal authorities as to the efficacy of the oath. Why take an oath if it has no legal impact? You must remember the difference between a profession and any other career to make money. A profession has ethics which are a significant learning component of any law degree in my country. Thus your first duty is to the Court and the second to your client. Issues such as the ‘taxi cab’ rule; and what to do if your client admits he is guilty; are all part of these ‘ethics’. Good luck, remember as my master solicitor explained to me when I questioned the morality of the law when I was a student - justice is what happens when the money runs out.