Those who practice the legal profession has often been compared to the knights of the Middle

Ages: they have a ‘Code of Chivalry’, which separates those who possess the title from those
who do not. It is a special among the professions because perhaps more than any other, it
requires the following of special codes of ethics. A true lawyer must work while following the
ethical standards; and this is more important than any earnings he may make. Ethics precedes
income. This is the reason why law has been able to maintain its high status as a noble and
honorable profession.

In Kant’s philosophy, he talks about things that can and cannot be held as the foundations of
morality. For one, morality cannot be based on data on human behavior because these vary from
person to person. It also cannot be based on pleasure because that feeling is unstable. It also
cannot be based on happiness because no one is obligated to be happy, but everyone is obligated
to be moral. Kant states that the only foundation of morality is good will. Good will is whatever
which is done for the sake of goodness without qualifications. It is good in itself and not for any
other purpose. The moral worth of an action is determined if it is done out of man’s good will.

When a lawyer fights for human rights even when the repressive government opposes him, when
he refuses to defend a billionaire who he knows is guilty, he is acting out of good will. Kant’s
categorical imperative is precisely that: an unconditional directive which should guide one’s
action. When a lawyer refuses to join corruption even when everyone else is doing them, when
he or she decides to stand up to the code of ethics that makes his profession honorable, he or she
follows Kant’s categorical imperative, the ultimate criteria for judging the morality of actions.

It is said that following ethical principles in law requires more than just intellectual acuity, but
equally important is a voluntary decision to stick to those ethics in the heart. As Kant would say,
the right motive and actions count. For an action to be moral, it must be done ‘out of duty’ and as
‘duty requires’. When a lawyer does act his duty because it is the right thing to do, the lawyer is
able to maintain the high standards of his profession, regardless of whether there are people who
see him or not. Kant is well aware of the pain that is sometimes present when one does the good
thing. But between doing the ‘good thing’ because it is in his interests, or because he has the
natural inclination on his personality, or because he truly believes in his duty to do the right
thing, Kant would put those who follow the last one as the most moral.
Source: https://www.iep.utm.edu/kantmeta/