Abstract:

This work sets out the research efforts developed by a network of professors at the Faculty of Law belonging to Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), –Spain-, about European Higher Education Area guidelines on generic competences, specially the acquisition of “ethical commitment”; which the university -UNED- relates to professional ethics and to the obedience and respect towards some democratic values and human rights. The acquisition of this skill has been reviewed and checked in the framework of the Degree in Law, and is treated, first, from the perspective of student personal behaviour, secondly, in connection with social and democratic values applied in a juridical system, and thirdly, mainly as a basis for a future professional development in relation with ethical and deontology values of relevant professional fields derived from Law such as the ones of the judge, the lawyer and the notary.

Some of the ethical principles that society demands of these functions are mentioned and they have a chance to show up, in connection with the function of the judge in the margin of discretion in the interpretation and application of the rules. With regard to the lawyer, the frequent trouble junction of strictly private and collective ethical values in their task. As for the notary in his chore of legality control. Besides, possible adverse consequences of an action lacking deontological and ethical commitment in such professions are pointed out and also is analysed related the aptitude student. Finally, the authors of this report, suggest, also, some measures in order to improve the implementation of this ethical competence in the law studies, raising the justice in the society.

Keywords:

Higher Education, generic competence, degree in law, ethic, deontology.