Differences between Legal and Ethical Issues

Legal and ethical aspects are imperative for the functioning of an appropriate society. In general, if a person is ethically correct, they are also expected to be legally correct. Another difference is that legal norms are written by government leaders, while ethical norms are written by social norms. For example, in the United States, the social norm is to stand in line. A person would violate an ethical standard by cutting in the line. However, this is not the case in another country. The social norm in this country could be that whoever is able to reach the door first can walk through the door first. In such a society, it is perfectly ethical to stand in line to reach the door first. • What is legal may be unethical.

For example, the dismissal of an employee by a company is not illegal, but may be unethical. The core of legal and ethical issues While ethical issues are based on the difference between good and evil, legal issues are based on laws. Many laws are created with ethical issues in mind to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals. On the other hand, there are laws that can be used in unethical ways. Failure to comply with the law is described as „illegal“. Being illegal or doing something illegal can put the person behind bars or a fine can be charged. When legality and ethics collide Just because something is legal doesn`t mean it`s ethical. For example, a medical company called Turing Pharmaceuticals increased the cost of a drug by 5,000 percent to increase its profits, according to CNN Money. It was legal to do so, but the ethics of increasing the cost of a drug that people depend on is questionable.

In addition, some argue that just because alcohol is legal does not mean that it is not ethically right to consume it. These disagreements are based on a person`s education, belief systems, and experiences. It is common for people to use these words as if they meant the same thing. Although these terms are closely related, many distinguishing features can be highlighted to determine what is legal and what is ethical. 1. „Legal“ and „ethical“ both act as adjectives and nouns. They have different origins – „legal“ comes from Anglo-French, while „ethical“ has Middle English and Greek roots. However, both have common ground in the Latin language. 2.

„Legal“ and „ethical“ standards are considered standards and methods for carrying out a certain type of behaviour and action. 3.It is a difference in scope and application. „Legal“ may refer to a broader scope, while „ethical“ applies on an individual basis. 4. The term „legal“ has its foundation in ethics, while „ethics“ has its foundation in morality. Both judge a particular behavior or action in their respective opinions as good or bad. 5. The term „legal“ has a more objective view, while „ethics“ has a personal and different point of view depending on the individual. It is a well-known fact that most laws are based on ethics. For this reason, ethical and legal issues often overlap, making it quite difficult to distinguish between the two. However, it must be clear that ethical and legal issues are two different types of issues that need to be addressed in different ways. The law is described as the set of rules created by the government to govern society as a whole.

The law is generally accepted, recognized and enforced. It was created with the aim of maintaining social order, peace, justice in society and protecting the general public and its interests. It is produced taking into account ethical principles and moral values. Ethical standards refer to a set of values that the founders of the institution developed to guide the behavior of the organization. Decision-making can be supported by reference to the code provided here. The organizational culture relies heavily on these standards. They set the expectations of owners and senior managers regarding the behavior of employees and suppliers, at least in the context of the relationship between the two parties. These principles are widely disseminated and strictly applied within the framework of a corporate governance framework. Leaders can help foster a positive work environment by setting an example for lower-level employees. Most ethical companies aim to develop the moral courage, beliefs, and moral efficiency of their employees.

Violations of ethical standards may result in fines, exclusions or other sanctions for the responsible lawyer. Since paralegals are not called to the bar, the lawyer or company they worked for is usually held accountable for their actions. An act is legal if it is done within the framework of the laws that govern a particular state, nation or territory.