LEGAL & MILITARY ETHICS ESSAY

Final paper, click here

My name is Kim McCahan Batson and I am a student in the Paralegal Program at Meredith College, Raleigh, NC, an ABA-approved and North Carolina State Bar Qualified Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program.

A class assignment required the examination of the ethics and professional behavior of an attorney in a movie.  I chose “A Few Good Men” – a story in which legal ethics and military ethics intertwine. As a future paralegal and a former military brat, I was drawn to the potential conflict between concepts of duty, honor, and loyalty in the military and legal ethics. I was also curious as to what other people thought, so designed and distributed a survey on the topic.  My analysis, conclusions, and survey results are available here.  I must warn you - it's not a quick read and my poor professor wil probably kill me as the paper is nearly five times longer than it is supposed to be!

Many thanks to all who helped in my research, especially my brother, Col. G. R. McCahan, III (US Army, deploying to Iraq in mid-April 2010), my uncle, Col. A. R. McCahan (US Army, Ret.) Chapel Hill and Navy JAG attorney Glenn Gerding.

More Background

Who:  I have been a church secretary for over nine years, and currently serve at Amity United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, NC. Occasionally I will use my creative skills in document preparation or to articulate a passionate social cause.

Why:  Being raised on Air Force and Army installations and communities while my father served his country, I have a natural affinity and respect for our armed forces.  In addition to Dad, my grandfather, brother, and uncle all served as Air Force or Army officers in war zones.  Dad’s sacrifice, along with that of so many others, is remembered by The Vietnam War In Memory Memorial Plaque Project, which honors America's post-Vietnam Casualties. G.R. McCahan, Jr. died in February 1987 of leukemia due to his exposure to Agent Orange during his tour of duty in Vietnam, 2/1968 – 2/1969. 

Kim McCahan Batson

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The In Memory Memorial Plaque was dedicated November 10, 2004, on the eve of Veteran's Day.  Pictured left to right are my brother, (now) Col. G.R. McCahan, III (in uniform, saluting), our mother, Helen McCahan, Aunt Lyn, and Uncle Alan (Col. A.R. "Mac" McCahan, U.S. Army, Ret.).

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