What is the Difference Between Ethics and Law?

Ethics can be used to help dictate the law, but individual ethics most often found in an organization’s
code of ethics are not law. The rule of law dictates the clear difference between ethical and legal issues,
and what they mean in terms of a country’s judicial power.

The difference between ethics and law is quite stark, though as with all rules and regulations, they can
(and do) overlap. Professional organizations, such as the American Bar Association, will disbar—revoke
the law license of, and thus the ability to practice law—any lawyer who they believe has broken their
code of ethics. Sometimes, though not always, the violation will be so great that the individual in
question also breaks the law.

The difference between ethics and justice is even more stark. Sometimes, for a lawyer to work within
the ethics in which they have vowed to uphold, they may not deliver justice. This can occur when a
lawyer believes their client is guilty of the crime of which they are obliged to defend them. In this
example, the difference between ethics and morals is clear, but in order to perform your duty as a
defense lawyer you must defend your client despite your reservations.

That said, ethics are generally not the law, and in most professions if you feel that you have a moral
obligation to speak up about ethical or legal violations in the workplace, you should. In these situations,
it’s up to you to speak out to your boss or another superior within your organization so as to make them
aware of the situation.

What is the Difference Between Ethics and Values?

The difference between ethics and values is much the same as the difference between ethics and moral
values. Ethics are the code in which an organization or community expects you to live by. Your values
are what you believe to be true above all else; they represent your fundamental beliefs.

While your values, sometimes called your core values, can change over time as you learn more
information about the subjects in which they represent, they cannot change overnight.